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1038-1040 Powell St

Nob Hill, SF 94108 0211020 5 units · 3 fl · 1926

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 Nob Hill — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 2.4
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Nob Hill average of 2.4.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1038-1040 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 1926
2 or more units
5 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RC4
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 1926
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
Units5
Floors3
Year built1926
Total area3,615 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot0211020
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
1040 Powell St Apt 4 San Francisco CA 94108
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.

1038 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94108
1040 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-story multi-family residential building at 1038-1040 Powell Street in Nob Hill, owned by Cynthia Poon, contains five units and was constructed in 1926. The building has undergone several significant maintenance and improvement projects over the years, most notably a $19,000 reroofing completed in 2011, with an earlier reroofing dating back to 1990. A series of notable violations were recorded in 2002, including issues with fire safety systems, security measures, and egress obstructions, though all were successfully abated by October 2002. These violations were preceded by a routine inspection that same year. In 2011, another routine inspection revealed violations related to exterior paint and fire escape maintenance, which were again resolved by October 2011.

The property has experienced several sidewalk and street-related issues, with multiple 311 calls between 2015-2020 reporting problems such as loose garbage, graffiti, and even flooding. While the building's major systems and structure appear to be regularly maintained, as evidenced by the roof replacements and prompt resolution of code violations, the recent history shows some ongoing challenges with exterior cleanliness and street maintenance in the immediate vicinity. The building's violation and complaint history demonstrates a pattern of regulatory compliance, with all officially documented violations being addressed within reasonable timeframes. The most recent documented building improvements and inspections suggest that while the property is generally well-maintained, it experiences typical urban challenges associated with its location in a busy neighborhood.

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

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Risk rating

How 1038-1040 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
77thpercentile

Out of 1125 buildings in this neighborhood, 259 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
79%
No DBI
violation
21%
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.

Neighborhood location

Precise location is a proxy for neighborhood-level risk — some SF blocks have systematically higher DBI activity.

Estimated permit spend (past 7 years)

Dollar value of permits pulled at this address — large recent spend can signal deferred-maintenance catch-up.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 21%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1038-1040 Powell St apartment reviews

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On the map

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Buildings nearby
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The story over time

1038-1040 Powell St event timeline

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

No dated public records on file yet.
Every record we have

Full data for 1038-1040 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 1038-1040 Powell St compares to the neighborhood

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