Free SF apartment background check

650 Ellis St

Tenderloin, SF 94109 0321016 30 units · 3 fl · 1916

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. 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 Tenderloin
At or below average
avg 12.0
4
FewerMore

This building has 4 novs (7y), at or below the Tenderloin average of 12.0.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 650 Ellis 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
30 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
Units30
Floors3
Year built1916
Total area13,593 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0321016
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Steven C. Thrower 1 Bush St Ste 900 San Francisco CA 94104
Last sale
042718

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 30-unit, 3-story apartment building at 650 Ellis Street, constructed in 1916, has undergone significant recent renovations and faced various maintenance challenges. Between 2021 and early 2023, multiple units (2, 5, 9, 11, 16, 18, and 26) received substantial updates including kitchen and bathroom renovations, washer/dryer installations, and electrical improvements, with Unit 5 being the most recently completed in January 2023. The building's fire safety systems have been a recurring concern, with a fire alarm system upgrade completed in 2020 to meet NFPA 72 standards, though subsequent violations for alarm system maintenance were noted in 2023. Significant historical issues include a period of serious water damage and ceiling leaks reported in 2019 in Unit 29, structural concerns noted in 2018 regarding contorted roof and floor, and multiple violations from 2011 related to heating, water damage, and various maintenance issues, though these were abated by August 2012.

The property has experienced ongoing maintenance challenges, with recent 311 calls in 2024 indicating issues with a damaged sewer vent cover, property damage potentially related to a tree, and sewage back-up discharge. Historical complaints from 2018 mentioned possible lead concerns in Unit 3's hallway tiles, while earlier violations from 2011 involved various issues including the need for repairs to tubs/showers, window frames, and fire safety equipment. The building's management has generally addressed permit requirements, as evidenced by multiple completed permits for unit renovations and infrastructure upgrades, including a common area washer/dryer upgrade and sewer lateral work in 2020. Fire safety remains a monitored area, with the most recent fire alarm-related complaint in July 2024 showing prompt correction, though a violation was issued in August 2023 related to alarm system maintenance.

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

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Risk rating

How 650 Ellis 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
66th percentile

Out of 172 buildings in this neighborhood, 58 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.

Building age

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

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 7.5%
Moderate concern 86.1%
Severe concern 6.4%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

650 Ellis St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

650 Ellis St event timeline

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

2025
DBI Complaint Dec 03
A piece of chimney is hanging over my trash area from the building next door.
Code Enforcement Section
DBI ComplaintNov 10
Date last observed: 06-oct-25; unit: 28; exact location: main bldg; building type: residence/dwelling no heat; no hot water; no power to the unit; no power to an outlet;

See all 31 events

Full history back to 2020 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 650 Ellis St apartments

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

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

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