Free SF apartment background check

639 Steiner St

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

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 Alamo Square — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 2.3
2
FewerMore

This building has 2 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.

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 1903
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
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).

Mailing address
639 Steiner St San Francisco CA 94117
Last sale
March 29, 2013

Landlord portfolio

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

Unlock complete report
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

Free account unlocks the full analysis — plus 2× more records across all data categories and the complete landlord portfolio.
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

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
56thpercentile

Out of 305 buildings in this neighborhood, 134 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
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 risk forecast
Moderate failure risk 31%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

639 Steiner St apartment reviews

Real experiences from people who have lived here. Share yours to help other renters decide.

Share your experience — Help other renters by leaving an honest apartment review

Loading reviews…

On the map

Compare nearby alternatives

This building and nearby alternatives, color-coded by risk level. Click any marker to explore.

The story over time

639 Steiner St event timeline

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

2026
Plumbing Permit Jul 28
To comply with nov#202659373. sewer and house trap replacement.
Issued
Building Violation (NOV)Jul 15
Observed large crack in retaining wall at front of property. wall may be failing monthly monitoring fee section 110a table 1a-k

See all 9 events

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

Unlock complete timeline
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.

Side by side

How 639 Steiner St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Alamo Square. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

Loading comparables…
Still apartment hunting in SF?

Look up the next apartment before you sign

Search any SF address free — no account needed to see the risk rating.

Simple pricing

Get the complete picture

Every plan unlocks the complete report: all 13 SF datasets, full history, landlord portfolio, and PDF & Excel exports.

Pay once

Report Bundle

For the buildings you're deciding on right now

$10one time

3premium reports

$3.33 per report · charged once, never renews

Each credit unlocks one building's premium report for 30 days.

  • 3 premium reports — AI executive summary included
  • Live data across all 27 public record types
  • 200 records per dataset
  • PDF & Excel exports included
  • Compare up to 10 buildings side-by-side
  • Credits never expire until you use them
Pay once

Apartment Hunter

For a wide search across many buildings

$39one time

30premium reports

$1.30 per report · charged once, never renews

Each credit unlocks one building's premium report for 30 days.

  • 30 premium reports — AI executive summary included
  • Live data across all 27 public record types
  • 200 records per dataset
  • PDF & Excel exports included
  • Compare up to 10 buildings side-by-side
  • Credits never expire until you use them

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

Watch 639 Steiner St
Get alerted the moment a new violation or complaint is filed.