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525 Ofarrell St

Tenderloin, SF 94102 0323026 26 units · 6 fl · 1911

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
Above average
avg 12.0
18
FewerMore

This building has 18 novs (7y), above the Tenderloin average of 12.0.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 525 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 1911
2 or more units
26 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 1911
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
Units26
Floors6
Year built1911
Total area15,812 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusWelfare
Blocklot0323026
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Asian Inc 1167 Mission St Fl 4 San Francisco CA 94103
Last sale
000000

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 26-unit, 6-story multi-family residential building at 525 Ofarrell Street, built in 1911, has experienced significant maintenance and safety challenges in recent years, particularly regarding its elevator system and basic utilities. Between 2024 and early 2025, multiple complaints about the non-functioning elevator were filed, with residents reporting inability to access medical appointments and essential services, particularly affecting disabled and elderly tenants. Recent complaints from late 2024 indicate ongoing issues with heat and plumbing systems, including reports of water leaks and lack of heat. The building's maintenance history shows attempts at infrastructure improvements, such as a steam boiler replacement permitted for December 2024, though this remains to be completed based on the latest available permit status.

The building's historical records reveal periodic maintenance and safety violations, including a notable series of fire safety-related infractions recorded in 2008 that were subsequently abated. These included issues with fire escapes, electrical systems, and various fire safety equipment. While several building permits were completed successfully, including the installation of a fire alarm system in 1995, recent years have shown more pressing concerns with basic systems like heat, plumbing, and elevator functionality. The property was designated as unreinforced masonry in 2013, and various permits have been issued over the years for street space and sidewalk maintenance. Emergency response records indicate multiple service calls to the building, primarily related to false alarms and non-injurious incidents, with only one documented cooking fire incident. The combination of recent utility failures, particularly regarding heat and elevator access, suggests ongoing challenges with building maintenance and infrastructure reliability.

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

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Risk rating

How 525 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

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
46th percentile

Out of 172 buildings in this neighborhood, 93 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
10%
No DBI
violation
90%
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 (ZIP code)

The ZIP code captures local housing market and enforcement patterns that affect all buildings in the area.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 9.4%
Moderate concern 54.4%
Severe concern 36.2%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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The story over time

525 Ofarrell St event timeline

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

2026
Fire Complaint Jun 10
Sprinkler/Standpipe Systems
DBI ComplaintMar 05
Date last observed: 10-feb-26; time last observed: 3:37 pm; identity of person performing the work: asian, inc.; floor: 5; unit: 502; exact location: main bldg; building type: residence/dwelling water intrusion; ; additional information: water intrusion leading to hole in ceiling;

See all 18 events

Full history back to 2024 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 525 Ofarrell St apartments

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

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