Free SF apartment background check

125 Palm Ave

Jordan Park/Laurel Heights, SF 94118 1061006 10 units · 3 fl · 1964

This building has far more open problems than almost any other in the neighborhood. 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 Jordan Park/Laurel Heights
Above average
avg 0.9
26
FewerMore

This building has 26 novs (7y), above the Jordan Park/Laurel Heights average of 0.9.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 125 Palm Ave 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 1964
2 or more units
10 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
Units10
Floors3
Year built1964
Total area8,499 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1061006
Ownership

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

Owner name
Lau Jeffrey & Sophie
Mailing address
785 Columbus Ave San Francisco CA 94133
Last sale
000000

Landlord portfolio

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

Unlock complete report
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-story, 10-unit multi-family residential building at 125 Palm Avenue, owned by Jeffrey & Sophie Lau and constructed in 1964, has experienced significant maintenance and safety challenges over the past several years. The property has undergone multiple repair projects, including window replacements in 2009 and 2011, exterior siding repairs in 2018, and a fire alarm panel replacement in 2018. Of particular concern was a cluster of violations recorded in February 2016, when the property was designated as a nuisance under San Francisco Housing Code Section 1001(d), with violations including mold/mildew on ceilings, non-functioning smoke detectors, lighting issues, and problems with the fire escape system. These violations were officially abated in June 2017.

More recent issues continue to suggest ongoing maintenance challenges. As of 2023, there were multiple open 311 calls regarding the property, including sidewalk defects and tree root damage to the pavement. The building has experienced recurring fire safety code violations, with the most recent cluster of citations in January 2023 related to alarm system maintenance, fire extinguisher service, exit obstructions, and address numbering. There have also been three fire safety violations issued between 2021-2024, though some were promptly corrected. Tenant complaints from 2017 and 2019 indicate ongoing issues with building systems, including a non-functioning intercom system and various maintenance requests that were reportedly not addressed in a timely manner. While some historical maintenance issues have been resolved through permits (including stucco repairs and window replacements), the property has a documented history of fire safety concerns, including multiple fire alarm system violations and maintenance issues requiring correction.

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 125 Palm Ave'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
1th percentile

Out of 272 buildings in this neighborhood, 269 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
18%
No DBI
violation
82%
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

Formal complaints tenants filed with DBI about this building over 7 years.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 19.2%
Moderate concern 72.9%
Severe concern 7.9%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

125 Palm Ave 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.

Buildings nearby
Loading…
The story over time

125 Palm Ave event timeline

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

2025
Building Violation (NOV) Dec 29 Serious
Building violation
"repairs cited in this notice may require building, plumbing and / or electrical permits. when you apply for a permit, reference the compla…
Building Violation (NOV)Dec 29
Building violation

See all 16 events

Full history back to 2022 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

Unlock complete timeline
Every record we have

Full data for 125 Palm Ave apartments

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

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.

Report Bundle

For the buildings you're deciding on right now

$10 one-time

~$3.33 per building. No subscription ever. Each credit unlocks one building's premium report for 30 days.

  • 3 full AI-powered reports
  • Download PDF reports
  • Advanced safety analysis
  • Compare multiple buildings
  • Credits never expire until you use them
  • Full public records (200 rows per dataset)
Buy 3 Reports — $10

Apartment Hunter

For a wide search across many buildings

$39 one-time

30 reports — ~$1.30 each. No subscription ever.

  • 30 full AI-powered reports
  • Download PDF reports
  • Advanced safety analysis
  • Compare multiple buildings
  • Credits never expire until you use them
  • Full public records (200 rows per dataset)
Buy 30 Reports — $39

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

Watch 125 Palm Ave
Get alerted the moment a new violation or complaint is filed.