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686-690 Oak St

Hayes Valley, SF 94117 0828017 3 units · 3 fl · 1910

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 Hayes Valley
At or below average
avg 2.3
0
FewerMore

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

Rent & eviction protection

Is 686-690 Oak 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 1910
2 or more units
3 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM1
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
Units3
Floors3
Year built1910
Total area4,830 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot0828017
Ownership

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

Owner name
Reed Michael A
Mailing address
688 Oak St San Francisco CA 94117
Last sale
081307

Landlord portfolio

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

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

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

690 Oak St, San Francisco, CA 94117
688 Oak St, San Francisco, CA 94117
686 Oak St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-unit multi-family residential building at 686-690 Oak Street in Hayes Valley is a three-story structure built in 1910, currently owned by Michael A. Reed. The building has experienced recurring maintenance and safety issues over the past several decades, with particular attention needed to the stairways and fire safety systems. Recent history shows concerns with water-related problems, including a 2024 complaint about shower curtains covering trash bins and earlier issues with water intrusion and mold in 2014 and 2017. The property has undergone some significant maintenance work, including reroofing in 2013 and stair repairs in 2008, which followed multiple violations related to handrail installation and stair conditions.

More recent developments in 2023-2024 indicate ongoing infrastructure challenges, including repeated sewage backup issues (with calls in 2020, 2023, and most recently February 2024), and problems with exterior elements such as a damaged side sewer vent cover and a potentially hazardous tree. The building's systems have shown some maintenance activity, though a 2019 electrical permit for new wiring was canceled. Historical records show past fire safety violations in 2003 that were addressed, including issues with combustible storage and fire extinguisher requirements. The property's maintenance record suggests a pattern of addressing violations and repairs, though some issues have recurred over time, particularly regarding water-related problems and stairway safety features.

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

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Risk rating

How 686-690 Oak 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
35th percentile

Out of 1027 buildings in this neighborhood, 668 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
58%
No DBI
violation
42%
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.

Construction spend, owner's portfolio

Estimated permit value across all of this owner's buildings.

Estimated permit spend (past 7 years)

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

Owner's portfolio size

Number of SF parcels this owner is registered on — larger portfolios have distinct risk patterns.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 57.6%
Moderate concern 20.5%
Severe concern 22.0%
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

686-690 Oak St event timeline

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

2024
DBI Complaint Oct 10
Date last observed: 08-oct-24; time last observed: 08:00; identity of person performing the work: owner; floor: 1; unit: 1; exact location: main bldg; building type: residence/dwelling other building; ; additional information: shower curtain used to cover trash bins at the front. shower curtain whipped me in the face;
Housing Inspection Services
311 RequestSep 05
Damaged side sewer vent cover

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 686-690 Oak St apartments

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

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