Free SF apartment background check

656 Ofarrell St

Downtown, SF 94109 0319013 17 units · 4 fl · 1916

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model predicts a high risk of further maintenance problems 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 Downtown — not a forecast
Above average
avg 6.9
9
FewerMore

This building has 9 novs (7y), above the Downtown average of 6.9.

This building's 79% 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 656 Ofarrell 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 1916
2 or more units
17 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 1916
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
Units17
Floors4
Year built1916
Total area13,524 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0319013
Ownership

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

Mailing address
955 Prague St San Francisco CA 94112
Last sale
March 08, 2001

Landlord portfolio

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

Unlock complete report
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 17-unit, 4-story apartment building at 656 Ofarrell Street, owned by Boschetti Giampaolo and dating from 1916, has experienced several significant safety and maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, the building suffered fire damage in March 2023 affecting unit 401, with subsequent drywall, cabinet, and flooring repairs permitted at a cost of $150,000 in September 2023. More recently, between December 2024 and January 2025, there have been active complaints regarding smoke/carbon monoxide detector compliance, fire escape maintenance, and storage issues, as well as concerns about the building's exterior conditions including broken windows with glass falling onto sidewalks. The building has a documented history of fire safety system challenges, with multiple violations issued in 2024 related to sprinkler systems, standpipes, and alarm systems, though some have been resolved through proper maintenance. A significant renovation to the fire alarm system was initiated in late 2024, with permits showing work to comply with current fire code requirements and install low-frequency sounders in sleeping areas.

The property has undergone several important infrastructure updates over its lifetime, including seismic retrofitting in 1996 (completed at a cost of $84,000) and the installation of a new steam boiler in 2011. Historical data shows various maintenance issues have been addressed over time, including a notable series of building violations in 2016 that required attention to fire safety, building safety, and sanitation concerns, though these were abated by December 2016. More recent 311 calls indicate ongoing challenges with graffiti and encampments near the property, with multiple reports between late 2024 and early 2025, though many of these cases were unable to be resolved or documented properly.

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 656 Ofarrell 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
57thpercentile

Out of 448 buildings in this neighborhood, 193 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
21%
No DBI
violation
79%
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.

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.

NOV rate, owner's portfolio

Per-building NOV rate across everything this owner manages — high rates signal pattern neglect.

12-Month risk forecast
High failure risk 79%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

656 Ofarrell 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.

The story over time

656 Ofarrell St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Apr 07
Garbage and debris
other bagged boxed contained garbage
311 RequestFeb 26
Garbage and debris

See all 25 events

Full history back to 2022 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

Unlock complete timeline
Every record we have

Full data for 656 Ofarrell St apartments

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

Side by side

How 656 Ofarrell St compares to the neighborhood

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

Loading comparables…
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.

Pay once

Report Bundle

For the buildings you're deciding on right now

$10one time

3premium reports

$3.33 per report · charged once, never renews

Each credit unlocks one building's premium report for 30 days.

  • 3 premium reports — AI executive summary included
  • Live data across all 27 public record types
  • 200 records per dataset
  • PDF & Excel exports included
  • Compare up to 10 buildings side-by-side
  • Credits never expire until you use them
Pay once

Apartment Hunter

For a wide search across many buildings

$39one time

30premium reports

$1.30 per report · charged once, never renews

Each credit unlocks one building's premium report for 30 days.

  • 30 premium reports — AI executive summary included
  • Live data across all 27 public record types
  • 200 records per dataset
  • PDF & Excel exports included
  • Compare up to 10 buildings side-by-side
  • Credits never expire until you use them

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

Watch 656 Ofarrell St
Get alerted the moment a new violation or complaint is filed.