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1640 Washington St

Nob Hill, SF 94109 0597009 12 units · 3 fl · 1911

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 Nob Hill — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 2.4
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Nob Hill average of 2.4.

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 1640 Washington 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
12 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM2
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
Units12
Floors3
Year built1911
Total area10,989 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot0597009
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Yan Tinchiu 1640 Washington St Apt 7 San Francisco CA 94109
Last sale
December 20, 1993

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

This three-story, 12-unit multi-family residential building in Nob Hill was built in 1911 and is owned by Hung Michelle Wei-ching. The property has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues over the past five years. Most recently, in October 2023, window repairs were completed to address leakage problems at a cost of $8,000. Between 2016-2018, the building underwent multiple violations and compliance issues, particularly relating to unauthorized unit modifications, including work done without permits in Units 2, 7, and 12, though these were subsequently addressed through building permits. The property has had concerning fire safety history, with multiple fire safety complaints in 2017, illegal occupancy issues, fire system violations, and a 2018 incident involving alarm systems and extinguishers that required correction.

The building's infrastructure improvements include electrical system upgrades, with a 200-amp service installation in 2009, and various plumbing improvements such as heater installations and kitchen sink updates in 2008-2016. A significant safety violation period occurred in 2001-2002, when multiple building code violations were identified, including stair repairs, combustible storage issues, and various interior surface problems, though these were ultimately abated. The property's recent history shows more focus on routine maintenance, with recent permits primarily for window repairs and compliance with various building codes. The building's location has experienced typical urban issues documented through 311 calls, mainly regarding street cleaning and waste management, with the most recent complaint in June 2023 regarding a damaged tree.

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

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Risk rating

How 1640 Washington 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
15thpercentile

Out of 1125 buildings in this neighborhood, 956 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
22%
No DBI
violation
78%
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.

Number of units

The number of units affects how the model reads complaint and violation totals — more units means more potential sources.

Neighborhood location

Precise location is a proxy for neighborhood-level risk — some SF blocks have systematically higher DBI activity.

12-Month risk forecast
High failure risk 78%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1640 Washington St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

1640 Washington St event timeline

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

2026
Fire Complaint Jul 06
Alarm Systems

See all 2 events

Full history back to 2023 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 1640 Washington St apartments

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

Side by side

How 1640 Washington St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Nob 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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