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156-166 Hermann St

Hayes Valley, SF 94102 0869017 7 units · 3 fl · 1910

Nothing on record for this building in the last seven years. Our model still sees a moderate chance of maintenance problems in the next 12 months, from the owner's wider portfolio and the surrounding area rather than from anything recorded here. No public enforcement record to go on. Walk the building, ask the current tenants how repairs get handled, and get any promises in writing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Hayes Valley — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 2.2
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Hayes Valley average of 2.2.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 156-166 Hermann 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
7 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 1910
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
Units7
Floors3
Year built1910
Total area7,930 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot0869017
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Soong James H Ttee 164 Hermann St San Francisco CA 94102
Last sale
March 15, 1989

Landlord portfolio

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

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

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

156 Hermann St, San Francisco, CA 94102
160 Hermann St, San Francisco, CA 94102
162 Hermann St, San Francisco, CA 94102
158 Hermann St, San Francisco, CA 94102
166 Hermann St, San Francisco, CA 94102
164 Hermann St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 7-unit, 3-story multi-family residential building at 156-166 Hermann Street in Hayes Valley was constructed in 1910 and is currently managed by Soong Lvg Tr. The property has undergone several significant improvements over the past few years, most notably completing a mandatory soft-story retrofit in 2017 (Tier 3) at a cost of $110,000 to enhance seismic safety. In 2018, a kitchen renovation worth $8,000 was completed in Unit A, along with corresponding plumbing and electrical work for a new stove and outlet replacements. Historical records show earlier maintenance work including reroofing projects in 1990 and 2002, and a proposed kitchen demolition and renovation in 1985 that ultimately expired without completion.

The building experienced some safety and security concerns in late 2002, when violations were documented regarding the need for handrails on stairways and proper self-closing devices on exterior doors; however, these issues were promptly addressed and abated by February 2003. More recent activity on the property has primarily involved routine maintenance and external issues, as evidenced by multiple 311 calls between 2019-2025 regarding general cleaning, graffiti removal, and street maintenance. The most recent documented interactions were a rent board inquiry in January 2025 and a public works service request in May 2023, both of which were resolved satisfactorily. Since 2003, there have been no recorded building violations or major safety concerns, and the property appears to be maintaining compliance with current building codes and requirements.

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

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Risk rating

How 156-166 Hermann 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
35thpercentile

Out of 1027 buildings in this neighborhood, 668 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
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.

Building size

Total floor area — a proxy for building scale and the number of systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) that can fail.

Number of units

The number of units affects how the model reads complaint and violation totals — more units means more potential sources.

Neighborhood (ZIP code)

The ZIP code captures local housing market and enforcement patterns that affect all buildings in the area.

12-Month risk forecast
Moderate failure risk 42%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

156-166 Hermann St apartment reviews

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On the map

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8 found
The story over time

156-166 Hermann St event timeline

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

No dated public records on file yet.
Every record we have

Full data for 156-166 Hermann St apartments

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

Side by side

How 156-166 Hermann St compares to the neighborhood

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