Free SF apartment background check

1945 Clay St

Pacific Heights, SF 94109 0624013 14 units · 3 fl · 1925

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model sees a moderate chance of more 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 Pacific Heights — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.5
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Pacific Heights average of 1.5.

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 1945 Clay 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 1925
2 or more units
14 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM3
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 1925
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
Units14
Floors3
Year built1925
Total area11,910 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0624013
Ownership

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

Mailing address
C/o Gail Zerbib, Co-ttee 401 Country Club Dr San Francisco CA 94132
Last sale
February 28, 2002

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

1945 Clay Street is a 3-story, 14-unit multi-family residential building constructed in 1925, currently owned by the Herman Wendel 2002 Revocable Trust. The property has undergone several significant improvements in recent years, most notably a complete seismic retrofit completed in 2018 under Tier 3 soft-story requirements, installation of a new fire sprinkler system, and comprehensive fire alarm system upgrades in 2021. The building faced substantial challenges in 2018 when multiple unauthorized unit modifications were discovered, including the conversion of studio apartments into multi-bedroom units and unauthorized kitchen modifications in several units. These issues led to numerous violations that were ultimately addressed through subsequent permit applications and repairs, including window escape/rescue stairway additions and other safety upgrades.

Recent maintenance at the property has included bathroom renovations (most recently completed in October 2023 with new shower panels and toilet installations), various plumbing updates, and fire safety improvements. The building has experienced recurring fire safety compliance issues, with multiple fire code violations recorded between 2006 and 2024, though all have been marked as corrected. Historical maintenance records show attention to various building systems including plumbing repairs, electrical upgrades, and general maintenance issues such as water damage and fire escape repairs. The property has also been subject to several tenant complaints regarding security and maintenance issues, including concerns about unauthorized unit conversions, mold, and security system malfunctions, though most of these issues appear to have been addressed through subsequent repairs and system upgrades. While the building's recent history shows significant investment in infrastructure improvements and safety systems, potential residents should note the property's past challenges with unauthorized unit modifications and periodic fire safety compliance issues, though these have generally been addressed through proper permits and corrections.

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

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Risk rating

How 1945 Clay 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
27thpercentile

Out of 963 buildings in this neighborhood, 703 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
50%
No DBI
violation
50%
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

Formal complaints tenants filed with DBI about this building over 7 years.

12-Month risk forecast
Moderate failure risk 50%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1945 Clay St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

1945 Clay St event timeline

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

2026
DBI Complaint May 14
They're doing roofing work without a permit.(311 sr 101004048564)
Code Enforcement Section

See all 19 events

Full history back to 2019 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 1945 Clay St apartments

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

Side by side

How 1945 Clay St compares to the neighborhood

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

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