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1539-1545 Powell St

North Beach, SF 94133 0129002B 4 units · 2 fl · 1907

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model sees a moderate chance of more in the next 12 months. A few records worth reading before you sign. Check whether they were closed out, and ask what was actually fixed.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in North Beach — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 2.2
1
FewerMore

This building has 1 novs (7y), at or below the North Beach average of 2.2.

The bar and the rating point different ways because they measure different things: the bar counts DBI violations already on file, the rating forecasts the next 12 months.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1539-1545 Powell 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
4 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 1907
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
Units4
Floors2
Year built1907
Total area3,680 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0129002B
Ownership

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

Mailing address
118 De Montfort Ave San Francisco CA 94112
Last sale
February 25, 2005

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.

1541 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133
1545 A Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133
1539 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133
1543 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

This two-story multi-family residential building, located at 1539-1545 Powell Street in North Beach, was constructed in 1907 and contains 4 units. The property has undergone several significant mechanical updates in recent years, including the installation of two mini-split heat pumps in October 2022 and a new furnace in September 2022, following multiple heating system replacements between 2021-2022. A notable plumbing issue occurred in early 2021 with multiple complaints regarding broken sewer lines that reportedly affected neighboring properties and resulted in some water intrusion problems; this was subsequently addressed through a completed repair in March 2021. The building's maintenance history shows consistent attention to infrastructure needs, including a complete reroofing in 1999 and various furnace installations between 2007-2008.

The property faced several compliance issues in March 2008, including violations related to door closing devices, fire extinguisher maintenance, water heater safety features, and storage blocking exit routes; however, all these violations were abated by the end of March 2008. There were also heating system problems reported in December 2007 and December 2021, though these were addressed through system upgrades and repairs. In addition to these maintenance and compliance matters, the building experienced environmental issues in December 2021, with reports of mold, lack of heat, and rodent/insect infestation, which were subsequently transferred to appropriate health departments for investigation. While the building has had various routine inspections and some building violations over the years, most recent work has focused on updating and replacing aging systems to improve resident comfort and safety. The most recent major systems work includes the 2022 HVAC upgrades and a 2021 sewer line repair, indicating ongoing maintenance efforts by the current owners, Yu Zhuo C & Lily Li.

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

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Risk rating

How 1539-1545 Powell 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
24thpercentile

Out of 362 buildings in this neighborhood, 275 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
52%
No DBI
violation
48%
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

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

Building age

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

12-Month risk forecast
Moderate failure risk 48%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1539-1545 Powell St apartment reviews

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On the map

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8 found
The story over time

1539-1545 Powell St event timeline

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

2022
Plumbing Permit Oct 21
Work category: 1m; replace old heater to install two new mini spilt heat pump for unit #1539 #1545a two unit
Complete
Plumbing PermitSep 16
Work category: 1m; renwe permit pmw2021713007 replace old furnace to install new one and vent pipe

See all 9 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 1539-1545 Powell St apartments

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

Side by side

How 1539-1545 Powell St compares to the neighborhood

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