Free SF apartment background check

20 Dashiell Hammett St

Downtown, SF 94108 0272025 22 units · 3 fl · 1912

This building has a substantial enforcement record over the last seven years, and our model predicts continuing maintenance failures over the next 12 months. Read the records below before you sign. Ask which issues were resolved, get repair commitments in writing, and inspect the unit yourself.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Downtown — not a forecast
Above average
avg 6.9
12
FewerMore

This building has 12 novs (7y), above the Downtown average of 6.9.

This building's 82% risk is high in absolute terms; it still rates lower-risk here because buildings in Downtown generally score worse. The colour is relative to the neighborhood, the percentage is not.

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 20 Dashiell Hammett 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 1912
2 or more units
22 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.

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 1912
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
Units22
Floors3
Year built1912
Total area11,385 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0272025
Ownership

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

Mailing address
2608 35th Ave San Francisco CA 94116
Last sale
September 16, 1992

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

20 Dashiell Hammett Street is a three-story, 22-unit multi-family residential building constructed in 1912, currently owned by Haras Louis & Panagiota. The property has undergone several significant maintenance and infrastructure improvements over the years, including three roof replacements (most recently in 2005 at a cost of $18,000), an umbrella retrofit in 1997, and boiler system upgrades in 2017 featuring a new Laars water heater and Peerless steam boiler installations. However, the building has experienced persistent maintenance and safety issues in recent years, with the most concerning problems emerging in 2024. Recent complaints filed in August 2024 detail numerous safety hazards, including damaged walls, deteriorated electrical equipment, disabled access doors, and a pile of broken furniture on the roof posing a fire hazard. These issues follow a pattern of recurring maintenance challenges, with similar complaints about roof debris, peeling paint, and water damage documented as far back as 2017.

The building has a history of fire safety violations requiring attention to fire extinguishers, alarm systems, and exit access, though most of these issues were eventually corrected. A set of violations from 2000 related to laundry equipment, garbage containers, egress obstruction, and basement conditions were abated by November of that year. The property has also been the subject of multiple 311 calls in recent years regarding garbage and debris, with several reports of abandoned furniture on the roof and elsewhere. While many of these issues were addressed through inspections and repairs, the building's current state shows a concerning accumulation of maintenance problems that may affect resident safety and comfort.

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

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Risk rating

How 20 Dashiell Hammett 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
50thpercentile

Out of 448 buildings in this neighborhood, 224 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
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

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

12-Month risk forecast
High failure risk 82%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

20 Dashiell Hammett St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

20 Dashiell Hammett St event timeline

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

2026
Plumbing Permit Jun 10
To comply with nov#202655574. replacing larrs boiler serial #c17280947 with new laars serial #c25330592, model, mt2v0200nacc3blx, 199k btu. connect to existing two storage tanks with 120gal each.
Issued
311 RequestMay 27
Garbage and debris

See all 19 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 20 Dashiell Hammett St apartments

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

Side by side

How 20 Dashiell Hammett St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Downtown. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

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

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