Free SF apartment background check

85-91 Carl St

Cole Valley/Parnassus Heights, SF 94117 1271026 12 units · 2 fl · 1908

This building has a substantial enforcement record over the last seven years, and our model predicts continuing maintenance failures over 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 Cole Valley/Parnassus Heights — not a forecast
Above average
avg 0.9
5
FewerMore

This building has 5 novs (7y), above the Cole Valley/Parnassus Heights average of 0.9.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 85-91 Carl 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
12 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
NC1
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
Units12
Floors2
Year built1908
Total area9,390 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1271026
Ownership

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

Mailing address
1569 Solano Ave #300 Berkeley CA 94707
Last sale
November 27, 1991

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.

85 Carl St, San Francisco, CA 94117
91 Carl St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 12-unit, 2-story multi-family residential building at 85-91 Carl Street, owned by Just Another Scher Property, has undergone several significant safety and maintenance improvements since its construction in 1908. The building successfully completed its mandatory soft-story retrofit as a Tier 4 property in 2016-2017, including both ADA compliance and seismic upgrades totaling approximately $90,000. Recent fire safety improvements include a comprehensive fire alarm system replacement in 2021 ($5,000), followed by additional sounder installations in 2022, with the most recent work completed in 2023. The building has experienced recurring issues with fire safety systems and exit obstructions, as evidenced by multiple fire complaints regarding blocked exits and alarm system problems between 2019 and 2024, though most have been corrected promptly. A significant tenant complaint was filed in 2021 regarding unauthorized construction and painting work during shelter-in-place orders, and a recent active violation from 2022 concerns egress obstruction at the rear stair.

The building's maintenance history shows attention to infrastructure needs, including plumbing improvements with the replacement of drain and vent stacks in 2013, although some historical permits have expired, such as those for rear exterior stair repairs in 2005. Building occupants have experienced various infrastructure issues as documented in recent 311 calls, including a flooding incident in December 2024, though most service requests have been resolved promptly. The property has maintained compliance with lead paint regulations following a lead hazard notification in 2005, and while there have been periodic concerns about emergency lighting and handrails, these violations have generally been addressed within required timelines. The building's recent history shows ongoing attention to fire safety systems, with violations typically being abated in a timely manner, though the most recent fire violation issued in July 2024 suggests continuing monitoring of alarm system maintenance is needed.

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 85-91 Carl 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
8thpercentile

Out of 526 buildings in this neighborhood, 484 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
39%
No DBI
violation
61%
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 risk forecast
High failure risk 61%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

85-91 Carl 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

85-91 Carl St event timeline

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

2026
Fire Complaint Jun 24
Blocked Exits
No Merit

See all 18 events

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

Unlock complete timeline
Every record we have

Full data for 85-91 Carl St apartments

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

Side by side

How 85-91 Carl St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Cole Valley/Parnassus Heights. 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 85-91 Carl St
Get alerted the moment a new violation or complaint is filed.