Free SF apartment background check

101 Polk St

Van Ness/ Civic Center, SF 94102 0811031 162 units · 14 fl · 2016

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Renters here report frequent, slow-to-fix problems. Get repair promises in writing and check the unit before signing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Van Ness/ Civic Center
At or below average
avg 6.7
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Van Ness/ Civic Center average of 6.7.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 101 Polk 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 2016
2 or more units
162 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
C3G
Not rent-controlled. Buildings constructed after 1978 are generally exempt from SF rent increase limits under the Costa-Hawkins Act.

Based on SF Assessor records. Not legal advice — confirm with the SF Rent Board.

Building characteristics
Units162
Floors14
Year built2016
Total area155,218 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0811031
Ownership

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

Owner name
Emerald Polk Llc
Mailing address
235 Montgomery St Fl 27 San Francisco CA 94104
Last sale
040119

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

101 Polk Street is a 162-unit, 14-story multi-family residential building constructed in 2016, currently owned by Emerald Polk LLC. The building has experienced ongoing maintenance and safety system issues, most notably a recurring problem with the mechanical ventilation system as documented in an August 2023 complaint, where residents reported breakdowns approximately every six months resulting in hazardous air quality concerns. The property has a significant record of fire system-related violations and incidents, with eight documented fire code violations between 2021 and 2024, including issues with sprinkler/standpipe systems, alarm systems, and blocked exits. A particular area of concern is the violation issued in October 2023 regarding sleeping area requirements that remains open as of recent records.

The building's construction and early operation period (2013-2016) involved extensive safety system installations, including a complete fire sprinkler system ($200,000), fire alarm voice evacuation system ($150,000), and various plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems necessary for a high-rise residential building. More recent maintenance issues have centered around the mechanical ventilation system, and there have been multiple fire code violations requiring correction over the years. The property has also seen consistent issues with parking garage operations, as evidenced by multiple electrical permits for garage systems, and has a recent history of garbage and sidewalk maintenance concerns as evidenced by multiple 311 calls in January 2025. While many initial construction-related complaints regarding construction noise and light were documented in 2014-2017, these appear to have been primarily related to the construction period rather than ongoing operations.

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

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Risk rating

How 101 Polk 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

Grade A–B — Low risk

DBI rarely finds violations here. Strong maintenance history and a clean complaint record.

Grade C — Moderate risk

Some past violations or complaints on record. Worth asking the landlord about any open issues before signing.

Grade D–F — High risk

Elevated violation and complaint history. DBI has found issues here before and is statistically likely to again.

Neighborhood percentile
28th percentile

Out of 85 buildings in this neighborhood, 61 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
11%
No DBI
violation
89%
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 severity forecast
No violation 10.3%
Moderate concern 59.5%
Severe concern 30.2%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

101 Polk St apartment reviews

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The story over time

101 Polk St event timeline

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

2026
DBI Complaint Apr 08
Date last observed: 07-apr-26; exact location: main bldg; building type: residence/dwelling other plumbing; ; additional information: i am reporting discolored tap water in my unit. this morning, the water appeared yellow and slightly cloudy. i noticed this after making coffee that tasted unusually bitter and then confirmed the discoloration visually. i have contacted building management to ask whether the water is safe to drink but have not received clarification.;
Housing Inspection Services
DBI ComplaintApr 07
Date last observed: 06-apr-26; exact location: main bldg; building type: residence/dwelling other building; ; additional information: i am reporting an elevator safety concern in my building. when the elevator is called and begins moving, the elevator’s floor appears to bounce, jerk, and then dip before stabilizing. i have reported this issue to management, but the report was marked “resolved” without any explanation and within an hour. i have a disability and a right knee injury and am unable to use the stairs (11 floors) as an alternative. thank you. ;

See all 12 events

Full history back to 2020 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 101 Polk St apartments

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

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