Free SF apartment background check

639 Steiner St

Alamo Square, SF 94117 0823002 4 units · 2 fl · 1903

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Few open issues; problems get fixed quickly. A reasonable bet for a smooth tenancy.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Alamo Square
At or below average
avg 2.3
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Alamo Square average of 2.3.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 639 Steiner 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 1903
2 or more units
4 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH3
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.

Building characteristics
Units4
Floors2
Year built1903
Total area3,832 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot0823002
Ownership

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

Owner name
Hayes William K & Carolyn P
Mailing address
639 Steiner St San Francisco CA 94117
Last sale
031114

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The property at 639 Steiner Street is a 2-story, 4-unit multi-family residential building constructed in 1903 in the Alamo Square neighborhood, currently owned by William K. & Carolyn P. Hayes. The building has undergone several significant repairs and improvements over the years, with the most recent major work being the replacement of knob and tube wiring (October 2024) and a safety inspection in April 2019. Historical records show various maintenance and compliance issues, including a notable incident in 2013 involving unauthorized construction (roof deck) that led to a Notice of Violation and subsequent removal of the illegally built structure. The building has experienced recurring maintenance issues with water damage, particularly in 2006-2007, when multiple complaints were filed regarding ceiling leaks in kitchen and bathroom areas. Fire safety systems have received attention, with multiple alarm system complaints (2005-2015) showing consistent monitoring and correction of safety features. Recent maintenance activities include a rain leader installation (2016), kitchen remodel (2013), and sewer lateral replacement (2008). The building has faced periodic challenges with graffiti (2023), parking violations, and general maintenance issues, which are being addressed through regular city services.

The property has a history of addressing building code requirements and safety concerns, with most violations being resolved promptly. Records indicate the owners have generally responded to maintenance needs, as seen in the completion of various building, plumbing, and electrical permits. A significant number of fire alarm-related complaints were recorded between 2005 and 2015, though all were marked as "Condition Corrected." The building's most recent major work involves electrical system upgrades (2024), suggesting ongoing investment in infrastructure maintenance. Historical records from 2003 and 2006 show various safety-related violations that were subsequently addressed, including security improvements and lead paint remediation. The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of addressing both routine maintenance and urgent repair needs, as well as compliance with city codes and regulations.

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

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Risk rating

How 639 Steiner 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
56th percentile

Out of 305 buildings in this neighborhood, 134 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
69%
No DBI
violation
31%
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.

Estimated permit spend (past 7 years)

Dollar value of permits pulled at this address — large recent spend can signal deferred-maintenance catch-up.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 36.2%
Moderate concern 19.8%
Severe concern 44.0%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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The story over time

639 Steiner St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request May 11
Garbage and debris
needles less than 20

See all 4 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 639 Steiner St apartments

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

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

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