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1848-1850 Buchanan St

Lower Pacific Heights, SF 94115 0675019 2 units · 3 fl · 1900

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model puts this building at a low risk of further maintenance problems 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 Lower Pacific Heights — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.6
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Lower Pacific Heights average of 1.6.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1848-1850 Buchanan 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 1900
2 or more units
2 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM4
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 1900
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
Units2
Floors3
Year built1900
Total area4,110 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot0675019
Ownership

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

Mailing address
1850 Buchanan St San Francisco CA 94115
Last sale
June 21, 2017

Landlord portfolio

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

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.

1848 Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA 94115
1850 Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA 94115
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The property at 1848-1850 Buchanan Street is a two-unit, two-story multi-family residential building located in Lower Pacific Heights, built in 1900 and currently owned by Matthew Christian Mcgrath. The building has undergone significant renovations and improvements over the past several years, most notably in 2018 when a substantial $450,000 interior remodel was completed, which included creating family rooms, laundry facilities, revised stairs, a 3/4 bath at garage level, and refurbishing the roof deck. This work was initiated to address various building violations from 2015-2016, including issues with lead paint hazards, damaged walls, and unsafe back stairs with dry rot. The foundation upgrade permit from 2019, originally valued at $20,000, was withdrawn. Major systems improvements included the installation of new gas furnaces for both units in 2019, comprehensive electrical system upgrades in 2019-2020 including new main meter panels and wiring, and extensive plumbing work.

The building has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues over the years, with the most critical being the 2015 violation regarding unsafe back stairs that required substantial remediation. A 2003 incident involving construction-related damage to the foundation was quickly addressed. The property has maintained active compliance with building codes, including addressing lead paint hazards as of September 2020. Recent activity at the property has primarily involved routine municipal services, as evidenced by multiple 311 calls in 2024 regarding street cleaning, debris removal, and other maintenance matters. Administrative records indicate a completed condo conversion process, while planning records show approval for various improvements including window replacements, siding repairs, and the addition of safety features like open railings and a spiral staircase. The building has active maintenance needs as evidenced by recent 311 calls for street cleaning and tree maintenance, with the most recent permits primarily related to routine street space usage.

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

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Risk rating

How 1848-1850 Buchanan 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
52ndpercentile

Out of 670 buildings in this neighborhood, 322 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
75%
No DBI
violation
25%
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

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

Building age

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

Building size

Total floor area — a proxy for building scale and the number of systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) that can fail.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 25%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

1848-1850 Buchanan St event timeline

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

2024
311 Request Mar 27
Encampment reports
Encampment Cleanup

See all 7 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 1848-1850 Buchanan St apartments

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

Side by side

How 1848-1850 Buchanan St compares to the neighborhood

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