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539-543 Union St

Telegraph Hill, SF 94133 0116043 6 units · 3 fl · 1909

Nothing on record for this building in the last seven years, and our model puts it at a low risk of maintenance problems over the next 12 months. No public enforcement record to go on. Walk the building, ask the current tenants how repairs get handled, and get any promises in writing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Telegraph Hill — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.2
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Telegraph Hill average of 1.2.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 539-543 Union St rent-controlled?

San Francisco's Rent Ordinance caps rent increases and provides eviction protection for most residential units built before 1979 with 2+ units. Here's how this building scores.

Built before 1979
Built 1909
2 or more units
6 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM2
Likely rent-controlled. Building age and unit count suggest this property falls under San Francisco's Rent Ordinance.

Based on SF Assessor records. Not legal advice — confirm with the SF Rent Board.

Statewide backstop · AB 1482

California Tenant Protection Act of 2019

Even when a building isn't covered by local rent stabilization, the statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) may still apply. It caps annual rent increases and requires the landlord to state a legal reason to end most tenancies.

15+ years since occupancy
Built 1909
Annual rent increase cap
5% + CPI, max 10%
Just-cause eviction
After 12 months
Local rent control likely takes priority. This building appears to fall under the local ordinance above, which is stronger than AB 1482. Where a local just-cause ordinance applies, its rules govern instead of the state cap.

AB 1482 does not apply to single-family homes and condos unless owned by a corporation, REIT, or an LLC with a corporate member; to owner-occupied duplexes; or to deed-restricted affordable housing. The Act is in effect until January 1, 2030. Not legal advice — see the California landlord–tenant guide.

Building characteristics
Units6
Floors3
Year built1909
Total area5,748 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0116043
Ownership

Registered owner per SF Assessor-Recorder (secured roll).

Mailing address
Alson Tom, Trustee 2650 16Th Ave San Francisco CA 94116
Last sale
—

Landlord portfolio

Other SF properties this owner holds, with a risk rating for each.

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.

539 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94133
543 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94133
541 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 6-unit apartment building at 539-543 Union Street in Telegraph Hill is a three-story structure built in 1909 and currently owned by the Alson Tom Trust 2008. The building has undergone several notable maintenance activities and experienced multiple violations over the years, with the most significant issues occurring between 2000 and 2011. In the early 2000s, there were serious concerns about lead paint hazards, with complaints filed in 2001 and 2010, though these were eventually abated in September 2011. The property has a history of fire safety and emergency preparedness violations, particularly in 2005, when issues were identified regarding fire extinguisher maintenance, fire door closures, egress obstruction, and gas utility shutoff tools, though all these violations were resolved by December 2005. A ceiling collapse was reported and resolved in 2001. The building's maintenance history shows roofing work was performed in 1993 and 1999, though these permits have since expired.

More recently, the property has experienced recurring issues with street cleanliness and debris removal, particularly in 2024, with multiple reports of abandoned garbage and debris on the street and sidewalk. Between January and December 2024, there were several reports of garbage and general cleaning needs, including cases of bagged debris and blocked sidewalks. The property also had a water or steam leak incident recorded, though no civilian injuries were reported. The building's most recent documented street space permits were issued in 2011, suggesting some time since any major structural work was performed. Additionally, there was one street space and sidewalk permit issued in 2007, though the specific purpose of these permits is not detailed in the records. While many of the historical violations have been addressed, the recent pattern of street cleaning issues may indicate ongoing challenges with building maintenance and property management in the surrounding area.

AI-generated · may contain errors · check the source data tables below

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Risk rating

How 539-543 Union St's risk score is calculated

We trained a model on 7 years of SF DBI inspection data — notice of violation filings, complaint history, and owner track records. It estimates the probability that DBI inspectors will issue a Notice of Violation at this address in the next 12 months. Lower % = safer.

What the score means for you

Lower risk — safer than most nearby

DBI rarely finds violations here. Strong maintenance history and a clean complaint record.

Typical — about average for the neighborhood

Some past violations or complaints on record. Worth asking the landlord about any open issues before signing.

Higher risk — riskier than most nearby

Elevated violation and complaint history. DBI has found issues here before and is statistically likely to again.

Neighborhood percentile
51stpercentile

Out of 684 buildings in this neighborhood, 335 are predicted to be safer. The band is relative to this neighborhood, so a share of every neighborhood falls in each colour.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
86%
No DBI
violation
14%
DBI violation
likely
Model explanation

What's driving this score

The three data points that most influenced this building's risk rating — ranked by the weight the model placed on each one.

Number of units

The number of units affects how the model reads complaint and violation totals — more units means more potential sources.

Building age

Older buildings tend to have more maintenance challenges; SF's pre-1906 earthquake housing stock carries distinct risk.

Building permits, owner's portfolio

Permits pulled across all of this owner's buildings over 7 years.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 14%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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8 found
The story over time

539-543 Union St event timeline

Violations, complaints, fire incidents, permits, and buyouts — most recent records in order.

2026
311 Request Jun 17
Garbage and debris
other loose garbage debris yard waste
311 RequestJan 02
Garbage and debris

See all 5 events

Full history back to 2025 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 539-543 Union St apartments

13 SF public datasets for this parcel — permits, violations, complaints, fire records, 311 calls, planning records, and buyouts.

Side by side

How 539-543 Union St compares to the neighborhood

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