Free SF apartment background check

37-39 Downey St

Haight Ashbury, SF 94117 1254054 3 units · 3 fl · 1908

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 Haight Ashbury — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.7
0
FewerMore

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

Rent & eviction protection

Is 37-39 Downey 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 1908
2 or more units
3 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH2
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 1908
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 built1908
Total area3,828 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1254054
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Berg Jeffrey R & Friea M Co 506 Vallejo St San Francisco CA 94133
Last sale
June 07, 2011

Landlord portfolio

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

Unlock complete report
Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

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

37 Downey St, San Francisco, CA 94117
39 Downey St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-unit residential building at 37-39 Downey Street in Haight Ashbury, owned by the Berg Living Trust, has undergone several significant improvements and maintenance work since its construction in 1908. Most recently, in 2024, a solar PV system was installed, adding sustainability features to the property. A notable upcoming project has been filed for October 2024, involving modifications to the roof access and the creation of a new private roof deck. The building has received substantial interior upgrades, including a $60,000 renovation in 2022-2023 involving kitchen and bathroom remodeling across all units, though there were complaints filed in 2022 regarding an alleged unauthorized unit installation behind the storage area. Maintenance history shows consistent upkeep, with a complete reroofing in 2021 ($21,000) and termination of several violations from 2003-2009 related to stairs, doors, and egress requirements, which were all properly addressed.

The property's historical records reveal attention to structural integrity and safety, including repairs following a structural report and termite inspection in 2011 ($11,000), and earlier siding and foundation work in 2009 ($1,500) that included dry rot repairs and installation of anchor bolts. A backflow prevention device was installed in February 2024, demonstrating ongoing attention to plumbing systems. While there have been multiple 311 calls regarding parking enforcement and some maintenance issues, these are typical for the area and have been addressed through appropriate channels. A single fire incident was recorded, but it was limited to a malfunctioning smoke detector with no injuries reported. The building has undergone regular routine inspections, most recently in 2017, suggesting compliance with housing codes and regulations.

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 37-39 Downey 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
84thpercentile

Out of 581 buildings in this neighborhood, 93 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
84%
No DBI
violation
16%
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.

DBI complaint rate, owner's portfolio

Per-building complaint rate across the owner's portfolio.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 16%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

37-39 Downey St 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.

The story over time

37-39 Downey St event timeline

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

2024
Building Permit Oct 31
Removal of (e) roof access and rooftop stair penthouse. new access stair from (e) level 3 landing to roof level. new rooftop stair penthouse (73 sf). new private roof deck (320 sf). associated lighting and power (by others).
$25,000 · Filed
Planning ProjectJul 18
The project proposes the following to an existing three-story building with three dwelling units: removal of the existing roof access and rooftop stair penthouse; new access stair from the existing third level landing to the roof level; new rooftop stair penthouse; and a new private roof deck.

See all 14 events

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

Unlock complete timeline
Every record we have

Full data for 37-39 Downey St apartments

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

Side by side

How 37-39 Downey St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Haight Ashbury. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

Loading comparables…
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.

Pay once

Report Bundle

For the buildings you're deciding on right now

$10one time

3premium reports

$3.33 per report · charged once, never renews

Each credit unlocks one building's premium report for 30 days.

  • 3 premium reports — AI executive summary included
  • Live data across all 27 public record types
  • 200 records per dataset
  • PDF & Excel exports included
  • Compare up to 10 buildings side-by-side
  • Credits never expire until you use them
Pay once

Apartment Hunter

For a wide search across many buildings

$39one time

30premium reports

$1.30 per report · charged once, never renews

Each credit unlocks one building's premium report for 30 days.

  • 30 premium reports — AI executive summary included
  • Live data across all 27 public record types
  • 200 records per dataset
  • PDF & Excel exports included
  • Compare up to 10 buildings side-by-side
  • Credits never expire until you use them

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

Watch 37-39 Downey St
Get alerted the moment a new violation or complaint is filed.