Free SF apartment background check

537-541 Baker St

North Panhandle, SF 94117 1184005 3 units · 3 fl · 1900

This building has a substantial enforcement record over the last seven years, and our model sees a moderate chance of more in the next 12 months. Read the records below before you sign. Ask which issues were resolved, get repair commitments in writing, and inspect the unit yourself.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in North Panhandle — not a forecast
Above average
avg 1.7
24
FewerMore

This building has 24 novs (7y), above the North Panhandle average of 1.7.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 537-541 Baker 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 1900
2 or more units
3 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 1900
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
Units3
Floors3
Year built1900
Total area5,745 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1184005
Ownership

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

Mailing address
C/o Sutro Property Manageme Po Box 885373 San Francisco CA 94188
Last sale
November 15, 2022

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.

539 Baker St, San Francisco, CA 94117
537 Baker St, San Francisco, CA 94117
541 Baker St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-unit multi-family residential building at 537-541 Baker Street in Park North, owned by Edward Litke Revocable Trust 1995, is a three-story flats and duplex structure built in 1900. The property has undergone several significant renovations and improvements over the past two decades, with the most substantial work completed between late 2021 and early 2022, including a complete kitchen remodel, bathroom upgrades, electrical improvements, and the resolution of plumbing issues related to an improperly installed water heater. This renovation addressed multiple building violations from late 2020 concerning heating, smoke detection, and interior surface problems, all of which were officially abated in October 2021.

The building's history shows a pattern of maintenance and compliance issues, with earlier violations in 2003 regarding deck support beams, window leaks, and multiple interior surface concerns. While most historical problems have been addressed, including routine inspections in 2003 and 2014, there have been periodic issues requiring attention, particularly in 2020 when several violations were documented. Recent activity at the property has included multiple parking enforcement calls in 2024 for driveway blocking, suggesting ongoing challenges with enforcement of parking regulations in the area. Fire safety records indicate occasional concerns, including one instance of blocked exits in 2022 and several alarm activations, though none resulted in injuries or significant incidents. The building's most recent comprehensive upgrades in 2021-2022 appear to have addressed many of the property's historical deficiencies, though the frequency of parking violations in 2024 indicates ongoing management challenges in that area.

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

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Risk rating

How 537-541 Baker 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
31stpercentile

Out of 797 buildings in this neighborhood, 550 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
66%
No DBI
violation
34%
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

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

Building size

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

Building age

Older buildings tend to have more maintenance challenges; SF's pre-1906 earthquake housing stock carries distinct risk.

12-Month risk forecast
Moderate failure risk 34%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

537-541 Baker St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

537-541 Baker St event timeline

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

2022
Fire Complaint Jul 04
Blocked Exits
Condition Corrected

See all 13 events

Full history back to 2020 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 537-541 Baker St apartments

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

Side by side

How 537-541 Baker St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in North Panhandle. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

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

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