Free SF apartment background check

900 Powell St

Nob Hill, SF 94108 0224013 14 units · 3 fl · 1909

This building has far more open problems than almost any other in the neighborhood. Renters here report frequent, slow-to-fix problems. Get repair promises in writing and check the unit before signing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Nob Hill
Above average
avg 2.4
7
FewerMore

This building has 7 novs (7y), above the Nob Hill average of 2.4.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 900 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 1909
2 or more units
14 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM4
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
Units14
Floors3
Year built1909
Total area9,220 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0224013
Ownership

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

Owner name
Scher Revocable Tr
Mailing address
Daniel L Scher, Trustee 1569 Solano Ave #300 Berkeley CA 94707
Last sale
103009

Landlord portfolio

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

Unlock complete report
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 14-unit, 3-story multi-family residential building at 900 Powell Street in Nob Hill, constructed in 1909, has undergone several significant improvements and encountered various compliance issues over its history. Most recently, in 2021, the building received a fire alarm system upgrade to meet San Francisco Fire Code requirements, including new detectors and notification devices. The property has experienced recurring fire alarm system challenges, with violations recorded in 2019 and 2021, though these were subsequently corrected. A notable recent mechanical update occurred in 2022 with the removal of a hydronic boiler system, and in 2016, the building transitioned from a commercial water heater to multiple residential units. The building has undergone various major improvements over the years, including a substantial $750,000 kitchen and bathroom remodel in 2000, and an attempted unit legalization project in 2019.

Historical records show a series of building violations from 2005 related to fire safety, plumbing, and security, all of which were abated by August 2005. The property has maintained active compliance with building codes since then, with periodic inspections and necessary updates. Recent 311 calls from 2024-2025 have mainly concerned street-level issues such as garbage overflow and sidewalk conditions, which are municipal rather than building-specific concerns. The building's history includes multiple fire alarm system-related incidents, though none resulted in civilian injuries or significant damage. The most recent fire complaints in 2023 and 2021 were resolved promptly, indicating responsive maintenance of safety systems.

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 900 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

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
7th percentile

Out of 1125 buildings in this neighborhood, 1046 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
18%
No DBI
violation
82%
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 size

Total floor area — a proxy for building scale and the number of systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) that can fail.

Neighborhood location

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

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 12.8%
Moderate concern 60.1%
Severe concern 27.1%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

900 Powell 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

900 Powell St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Apr 04
Garbage and debris
transit shelter platform
311 RequestMar 16
Garbage and debris

See all 18 events

Full history back to 2019 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

Unlock complete timeline
Every record we have

Full data for 900 Powell 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 900 Powell St
Get alerted the moment a new violation or complaint is filed.