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2344 Van Ness Ave

Russian Hill, SF 94109 0550020A 9 units · 2 fl · 1921

Nothing on record for this building in the last seven years, but our model still flags a rising risk of maintenance problems in the next 12 months. That forecast comes from the owner's wider portfolio and the surrounding area, not from this building's own record — treat it as a reason to ask questions, not as evidence of a problem. No public enforcement record to go on. Walk the building, ask the current tenants how repairs get handled, and get any promises in writing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Russian Hill — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.9
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Russian Hill average of 1.9.

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 2344 Van Ness Ave 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 1921
2 or more units
9 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RC3
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 1921
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
Units9
Floors2
Year built1921
Total area6,401 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0550020A
Ownership

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

Mailing address
2099 Market St San Francisco CA 94114
Last sale
July 05, 1996

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

2344 Van Ness Avenue is a 2-story, 9-unit multi-family residential building located in Russian Hill, constructed in 1921 and currently owned by James M & Linda T Hess. The property has undergone numerous significant improvements over the past decade, with the most recent being two fire safety violations issued in July 2024 regarding alarm system maintenance, though these were abated. The building successfully completed its mandatory Soft Story seismic retrofit program, receiving a CFC issuance, and has shown consistent investment in unit upgrades and maintenance. Recent renovations include window replacements in 2021, a comprehensive kitchen and bathroom remodeling in Unit 5 in 2021 (costing $38,000), and various electrical, plumbing, and heating system updates across multiple units. Notable historical improvements include a 2016-2018 bathroom remodels in Units 1 and 2, a 2018 bedroom addition on the first floor, and the establishment of modern safety systems including Ufer grounding installation and new smoke detectors.

The building's maintenance record shows regular attention to safety systems, though there have been several alarm system-related incidents and violations in recent years (2016, 2021, and 2024) that required correction. The property has experienced multiple fire safety system activations, including CO detector and smoke detector activations, though none resulted in civilian injuries. Recent parking enforcement records from 2019-2022 indicate a recurring issue with vehicles blocking driveways, though this appears to be an external, neighborhood-related concern rather than an internal building issue. The property has also undergone significant infrastructure improvements, including re-roofing in 2015, electrical system upgrades, and the replacement of various plumbing fixtures and systems throughout the building, demonstrating ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving the property's condition and safety systems.

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

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Risk rating

How 2344 Van Ness Ave'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
13thpercentile

Out of 1133 buildings in this neighborhood, 986 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
27%
No DBI
violation
73%
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 risk forecast
High failure risk 73%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

2344 Van Ness Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

2344 Van Ness Ave event timeline

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

2025
Fire Complaint Jun 17
Sprinkler/Standpipe Systems
Violation Issued

See all 9 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 2344 Van Ness Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 2344 Van Ness Ave compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Russian Hill. 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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