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530 Central Ave

North Panhandle, SF 94117 1198023 5 units · 2 fl · 1924

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model puts this building at a low risk of further maintenance problems in the next 12 months. A few records worth reading before you sign. Check whether they were closed out, and ask what was actually fixed.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in North Panhandle — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.7
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the North Panhandle average of 1.7.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 530 Central 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 1924
2 or more units
5 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 1924
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
Units5
Floors2
Year built1924
Total area3,980 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1198023
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
530 Central Ave San Francisco CA 94117
Last sale
—

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The two-story, five-unit multi-family residential building at 530 Central Ave, constructed in 1924 and currently owned by Peter E. Romero, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues over recent years. Most concerning is an active complaint filed in December 2024 regarding heating and electrical problems, structural concerns, and unpermitted work. The building has a documented history of heating system problems, with multiple "no heat" complaints filed in 1994 and 2024 showing an ongoing pattern of HVAC issues. Recent maintenance includes a $19,800 re-roofing project scheduled for 2024 and a completed window replacement project in 2019 that upgraded 12 windows to match current standards. The building has undergone several important infrastructure upgrades, including a complete copper piping replacement for all units in 2008 and a 200-amp electrical service upgrade in 2005.

The property has been subject to regular fire safety inspections and corrections, with issues noted in 2022 regarding alarm systems and extinguishers, as well as multiple smoke detector activations and false alarms recorded over the years, though these incidents resulted in no civilian injuries. Elevator-related incidents have also been recorded, including a victim removal in 2014 and several defective elevator calls. The building's location has experienced various neighborhood issues typical for urban environments, including abandoned vehicles, sidewalk parking violations, and waste cleanup needs, though these are generally not directly related to the building's condition. The property has undergone several permitted improvements over its history, including an 1987 code compliance upgrade, though some earlier permits, such as a 1992 re-roofing permit, are now expired. While many maintenance and safety issues have been addressed promptly, the recent heating and electrical concerns from December 2024 and the building's historical heating system challenges warrant attention.

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

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Risk rating

How 530 Central 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

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
53rdpercentile

Out of 797 buildings in this neighborhood, 375 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
76%
No DBI
violation
24%
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.

Estimated permit spend (past 7 years)

Dollar value of permits pulled at this address — large recent spend can signal deferred-maintenance catch-up.

Neighborhood location

Precise location is a proxy for neighborhood-level risk — some SF blocks have systematically higher DBI activity.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 24%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

530 Central Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

530 Central Ave event timeline

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

2025
Fire Incident Oct 21 Serious
740 Unintentional transmission of alarm, other
Injuries: 0 · Fatalities: 0
Fire IncidentAug 31
651 Smoke scare, odor of smoke

See all 10 events

Full history back to 2019 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 530 Central Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 530 Central Ave compares to the neighborhood

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