855-859 Oak St
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.
This building has 14 novs (7y), above the Hayes Valley average of 2.3.
Is 855-859 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.
Based on SF Assessor records. Not legal advice — confirm with the SF Rent Board.
| Units | 3 |
|---|---|
| Floors | 3 |
| Year built | 1908 |
| Total area | 4,680 sq ft |
| Property type | Multi-Family Residential |
| Tax status | None |
| Blocklot | 0844027 |
Registered owner per SF Assessor-Recorder (secured roll).
Landlord portfolio
Other SF properties this owner holds, with risk grades for each.
Unlock complete reportIncluded addresses
All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.
The three-unit residential building at 855-859 Oak Street in Hayes Valley, owned by Leslie Handler, is a three-story flats and duplex structure built in 1908. The property has a significant history of permit violations and building code concerns, most notably an active violation filed in 2016 regarding an unauthorized additional dwelling unit in the basement (Unit A), which allegedly lacks proper safety features like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and adequate ventilation, along with various other safety concerns. Major structural and safety issues emerged in 2007-2008, including problems with the foundation and drainage leading to dry rot, unauthorized excavation work potentially compromising structural stability, and unpermitted kitchen and bathroom renovations. While some repairs were completed in 2018 addressing sheetrock and window dry rot, multiple active violations remain on record from 2007-2016 that were not fully resolved, including foundation issues and unauthorized construction. Recent maintenance records show the building has had recurring issues with garbage and debris management in the vicinity, as evidenced by multiple 311 calls throughout 2024, though these are external to the building itself. The most recent significant internal issue was a sewer backup discharge reported in October 2024, which was subsequently resolved. The building's permit history shows regular attempts to address various maintenance and safety issues, including stair repairs in 2016 and various remodeling work, though many of these projects were initiated in response to complaints and violations rather than as routine maintenance.
AI-generated · may contain errors · check the source data tables below
How 855-859 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.
Out of 1027 buildings in this neighborhood, 462 are predicted to be safer.
violation
likely
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.
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855-859 Oak St event timeline
Violations, complaints, fire incidents, permits, and buyouts — most recent records in order.
See all 3 events
Full history back to 2025 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.
Unlock complete timelineFull data for 855-859 Oak St apartments
13 SF public datasets for this parcel — permits, violations, complaints, fire records, 311 calls, planning records, and buyouts.
What this is
Permits issued by the SF Department of Building Inspection for new construction, alterations, and repairs. Includes estimated cost and current permit status.
| Permit # | Description | Cost | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Plumbing permit applications filed with the SF Department of Building Inspection. Covers plumbing installation, repair, and replacement work.
| Permit # | Description | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Electrical permit applications filed with the SF Department of Building Inspection. Covers electrical wiring, panel upgrades, and related work.
| Permit # | Description | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Notices of Violation issued by the SF Department of Building Inspection for code violations. Unresolved notices can escalate to legal action.
| Date Filed | Complaint # | Description | Item | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Complaints filed with the SF Department of Building Inspection about code violations. Tracks the complaint lifecycle from filing through abatement or referral.
| Complaint # | Date Filed | Date Abated | Division | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Planning Department project entitlements — discretionary review, conditional use, variances, and environmental review for this parcel.
| Address | Opened | Closed | Status | Description | Applicant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Planning Department administrative and compliance records that are not full project entitlements — pre-application meetings, code violations, and referrals.
| Address | Opened | Closed | Status | Description | Applicant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
SFFD fire incidents geo-joined to this parcel. Covers structure fires, alarms, and emergency responses with injury and fatality counts.
| Date | Situation | Civilian Injuries | Civilian Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Fire code violations issued by the SFFD. Tracks corrective actions required and resolution status for fire safety code enforcement.
| Violation Date | Description | Corrective Action | Status | Close Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Fire code complaints received by the SF Fire Department geo-joined to this parcel. Includes complaint type, disposition, and outcome.
| Received | Description | Disposition Date | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
SF 311 service requests geo-joined to this parcel. Includes maintenance complaints, street/sidewalk issues, and quality-of-life requests.
| Opened | Type | Agency | Category | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Buildings subject to SF's mandatory soft-story seismic retrofit program. Unreinforced multi-story wood-frame buildings must meet compliance tiers.
| Tier | Status |
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What this is
Tenant buyout (Ellis Act pre-cursor) agreements recorded with the SF Rent Board. Tracks amounts paid to tenants to vacate rent-controlled units.
| Disclosure Date | Buyout Date | Amount | Tenants |
|---|---|---|---|
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