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985-995 Ellis St

Van Ness/ Civic Center, SF 94109 0738020 54 units · 7 fl · 1931

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model predicts a high 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 Van Ness/ Civic Center — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 6.9
4
FewerMore

This building has 4 novs (7y), at or below the Van Ness/ Civic Center average of 6.9.

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 985-995 Ellis 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 1931
2 or more units
54 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 1931
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
Units54
Floors7
Year built1931
Total area50,480 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0738020
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Steven C. Thrower 1 Bush St Ste 900 San Francisco CA 94104
Last sale

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.

950 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94109
985 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94109
995 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 54-unit, 7-story apartment building at 985-995 Ellis Street, built in 1931 and currently owned by 950 B14 De LLC, has undergone significant recent improvements and faced multiple regulatory challenges. Most notably, the building is currently addressing multiple fire code violations as of November 2024, with issues related to the fire command center features and UL certification. Recent fire safety improvements include a filed permit from May 2024 to upgrade fire alarm systems to current codes with low-frequency sounders in sleeping areas. The building has completed numerous unit renovations between 2018 and 2024, including kitchen and bathroom rehabilitations, ADU conversions, and the installation of washer/dryer facilities in multiple units. Infrastructure improvements include a 2020 replacement of the domestic water service line and an EV charger installation in 2021.

The property has experienced several serious maintenance and management issues in recent years. A November 2022 complaint highlighted concerns about power outages and an allegedly uncommunicative management structure, while a 2021 complaint noted water damage and unauthorized work in unit #58. There have been multiple fire safety violations and complaints between 2021 and 2024, including issues with fire escape maintenance, alarm systems, and sleeping area requirements that remain open as of late 2023. The building's management has shown responsiveness to many maintenance issues, as evidenced by the prompt completion of various unit improvements and infrastructure upgrades. However, the recurring nature of fire safety violations and the timeline of some repairs and improvements suggest ongoing challenges with maintaining compliance across all building systems and regulations.

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

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Risk rating

How 985-995 Ellis 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 85 buildings in this neighborhood, 72 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
9%
No DBI
violation
91%
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
High failure risk 91%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

985-995 Ellis St apartment reviews

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The story over time

985-995 Ellis St event timeline

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

2026
DBI Complaint Jul 08
Date last observed: 07-jul-26; time last observed: june10th; floor: 2; unit: 23; exact location: none of the above; building type: residence/dwelling mold; ; additional information: there is mold growing from water damage two months ago;
Housing Inspection Services
311 RequestJun 30
Abandoned vehicle

See all 36 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 985-995 Ellis St apartments

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

Side by side

How 985-995 Ellis St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Van Ness/ Civic Center. 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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