Free SF apartment background check

1657-1659 Mason St

Russian Hill, SF 94133 0128001 2 units · 2 fl · 1907

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Few open issues; problems get fixed quickly. A reasonable bet for a smooth tenancy.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Russian Hill
At or below average
avg 1.9
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Russian Hill average of 1.9.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1657-1659 Mason 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 1907
2 or more units
2 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH2
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.

Building characteristics
Units2
Floors2
Year built1907
Total area3,900 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0128001
Ownership

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

Owner name
Gds Properties Llc
Mailing address
1657-1659 Mason St San Francisco CA 94133
Last sale
103013

Landlord portfolio

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

Unlock complete report
Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

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

1659 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94133
1657 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The two-unit residential building at 1657-1659 Mason Street in Russian Hill, owned by GDS Properties LLC, was constructed in 1907 and spans two stories. The property has undergone significant renovations in recent years, with major work starting in 2022 including comprehensive interior improvements valued at $350,000 encompassing electrical systems, finishes, fixtures, HVAC, and the addition of a proposed roof deck with safety railings. This renovation phase also included the replacement of 45 windows (27 street-facing and 18 rear-facing). Plumbing upgrades were substantial, with installations for complete utilities including two water heaters, kitchen appliances, and a new furnace and ductwork system. The property has maintained active building maintenance, including a roof replacement in 2014 and earlier rock fall protection work in 2005.

Recent concerns have emerged regarding construction practices, with a lead paint complaint filed in April 2023 about improper containment during renovation work, though this case is currently not active. A significant proposed development is currently under review that seeks to add two additional residential units to the property, incorporating a three-story structure over an existing concrete garage, with a combined proposed area of approximately 9,239 square feet. This addition, being pursued through a discretionary review process, would not increase the building's height or unit count, though it represents a substantial expansion of the property's footprint. The building's maintenance record shows regular upkeep and modernization efforts, including electrical system upgrades in 2023, though there have been some minor neighborhood issues addressed through 311 calls, such as sidewalk defects and occasional graffiti.

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

Free account unlocks the full analysis — plus 2× more records across all data categories and the complete landlord portfolio.
Risk rating

How 1657-1659 Mason 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

Grade A–B — Low risk

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

Grade C — Moderate risk

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

Grade D–F — High risk

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

Neighborhood percentile
43th percentile

Out of 1133 buildings in this neighborhood, 646 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
71%
No DBI
violation
29%
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

Formal complaints tenants filed with DBI about this building over 7 years.

DBI complaint rate, owner's portfolio

Per-building complaint rate across the owner's portfolio.

Building age

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

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 73.4%
Moderate concern 20.8%
Severe concern 5.9%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1657-1659 Mason St apartment reviews

Real experiences from people who have lived here. Share yours to help other renters decide.

Share your experience — Help other renters by leaving an honest apartment review

Loading reviews…

On the map

Compare nearby alternatives

This building and nearby alternatives, color-coded by risk level. Click any marker to explore.

Buildings nearby
Loading…
The story over time

1657-1659 Mason St event timeline

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

2024
Planning Record Jul 08
Discretionary Review Application for proposed residential addition of two units to a property with two existing units in a R-3 structure. The proposed rear addition consists of a three story over an existing concrete garage structure. The lower unit on the first floor will consist of a one bedroom and the upper unit on the second floor will consist of a three bedroom. A stair/elevator core is also proposed to serve the addition and will act as the primary entrance for the addition on Green Street. The existing two-unit structure shall remain. The project would require approximately 32 cubic yards of excavation with a maximum depth of 6 feet. The proposed addition would be approximately 9,239 square feet.
Closed - DR taken-Approved

See all 11 events

Full history back to 2021 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

Unlock complete timeline
Every record we have

Full data for 1657-1659 Mason St apartments

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

Still apartment hunting in SF?

Look up the next apartment before you sign

Search any SF address free — no account needed to see the risk rating.

Simple pricing

Get the complete picture

Every plan unlocks the complete report: all 13 SF datasets, full history, landlord portfolio, and PDF & Excel exports.

Report Bundle

For the buildings you're deciding on right now

$10 one-time

~$3.33 per building. No subscription ever. Each credit unlocks one building's premium report for 30 days.

  • 3 full AI-powered reports
  • Download PDF reports
  • Advanced safety analysis
  • Compare multiple buildings
  • Credits never expire until you use them
  • Full public records (200 rows per dataset)
Buy 3 Reports — $10

Apartment Hunter

For a wide search across many buildings

$39 one-time

30 reports — ~$1.30 each. No subscription ever.

  • 30 full AI-powered reports
  • Download PDF reports
  • Advanced safety analysis
  • Compare multiple buildings
  • Credits never expire until you use them
  • Full public records (200 rows per dataset)
Buy 30 Reports — $39

Cancel anytime · Data sourced from SF Open Data, DBI, SFFD, SF Rent Board & Planning

Watch 1657-1659 Mason St
Get alerted the moment a new violation or complaint is filed.