Free SF apartment background check

55 Hermann St

Hayes Valley, SF 94102 0872012 43 units · 6 fl · 1928

This building has significantly more problems than most nearby buildings. Renters here report frequent, slow-to-fix problems. Get repair promises in writing and check the unit before signing.

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 55 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 1928
2 or more units
43 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM3
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
Units43
Floors6
Year built1928
Total area28,188 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0872012
Ownership

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

Owner name
Gruber Family Ptnrs
Mailing address
119 17th Ave San Francisco CA 94121
Last sale
063003

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 43-unit, 6-story multi-family residential building at 55 Hermann Street, owned by Gruber Family Partners, was constructed in 1928 and is located in Hayes Valley. The property has undergone significant recent improvements, most notably a comprehensive fire alarm system upgrade completed in September 2023 to install low-frequency sounders in all sleeping areas, demonstrating compliance with current safety requirements. Between 2019 and 2023, the building underwent substantial unit renovations, including multiple kitchen and bathroom remodels across several apartments (Units 602, 603, 604, 105, 106, 204, 407, 304, and 305), with all work being completed according to permits and standards, totaling over $350,000 in improvements.

The building has experienced recurring heating system issues, with complaints filed in March 2021 and November 2022 regarding inadequate heat provision, though these matters were subsequently addressed. Fire safety is a notable area of concern; while the building has maintained active compliance with fire safety inspections and corrections (including recent complaints in December 2023 regarding extinguishers and sprinkler systems), the property has documented several fire-related incidents and violations over the years, including blocked exits in September 2023 that were promptly corrected. Recent 311 calls have indicated some interior maintenance issues, including a bed bug report in December 2024, and there are currently open public health and fire escape obstruction matters as of December 2024. Historical records from the early 2000s show various construction and maintenance concerns, including unauthorized plumbing and electrical work, though these were addressed at the time. The building has maintained regular fire safety inspections, with most recent violations being promptly abated, though the frequency of fire safety-related complaints suggests ongoing monitoring is required.

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

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Risk rating

How 55 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

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
11th percentile

Out of 1027 buildings in this neighborhood, 914 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
29%
No DBI
violation
71%
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.

Neighborhood (ZIP code)

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

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 13.5%
Moderate concern 79.6%
Severe concern 6.8%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

55 Hermann St apartment reviews

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The story over time

55 Hermann St event timeline

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

2026
Building Permit May 05
Unit 607: remodel kitchen - remove and replace kitchen cabinets, new floor and countertop, new kitchen appliances and faucet. remodel bathroom - replace tile, toilet, sink and faucet. upgrade electrical. all work in kind. no exterior work.
$35,000 · Issued
Plumbing PermitMay 05
Unit #607: kitchen- replace faucet and range. bathroom- replace toilet, sink, and faucet.

See all 27 events

Full history back to 2021 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 55 Hermann 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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