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4912 California St

Lake Street, SF 94118 1371020 4 units · 2 fl · 1923

Nothing on record for this building in the last seven years, and our model puts it at a low risk of maintenance problems over the next 12 months. No public enforcement record to go on. Walk the building, ask the current tenants how repairs get handled, and get any promises in writing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Lake Street — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 0.6
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Lake Street average of 0.6.

The bar and the rating point different ways because they measure different things: the bar counts DBI violations already on file, the rating forecasts the next 12 months.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 4912 California 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 1923
2 or more units
4 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.

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 1923
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
Units4
Floors2
Year built1923
Total area3,510 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1371020
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
1663 16th Ave San Francisco CA 94122
Last sale
July 16, 2013

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, four-unit apartment building at 4912 California Street, owned by Hu Xiao Xin and built in 1923, has undergone several significant renovations and faced multiple infrastructure challenges over the past two decades. Most recently, in 2014, the property underwent a bathroom and kitchen remodel, which included electrical work and plumbing updates, though this renovation initially drew a complaint about unpermitted work. Prior substantial improvements were made in 2006-2005, including electrical work for units 1, 2, and 4, and the installation of fire sprinklers in unit 1. A notable concerning period for the building occurred in 2013-2014, when tenant complaints were filed regarding lack of heat, black mold in a bathroom, and improperly vented dryer issues.

The building experienced significant infrastructure issues in 2022, with multiple sewage backup incidents reported between May 23 and June 8, 2022, affecting the property's sewer system and causing flooding on the property. Historical maintenance records show various improvements, including exterior siding repair in 2003 and a fire safety-focused renovation in 2006. The building faced serious violations in 2000 related to fire safety, security, and general maintenance, including issues with fire proofing, self-closing doors, and smoke detectors, though these were all abated by January 2001. Other improvements over the years have included a roofing project in 1998 and various unit-specific renovations, suggesting ongoing maintenance and upgrades to the building's systems and living spaces, though the recent sewage issues indicate potential challenges with the building's infrastructure systems.

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

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Risk rating

How 4912 California 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
23rdpercentile

Out of 660 buildings in this neighborhood, 508 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
73%
No DBI
violation
27%
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.

Neighborhood location

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

Estimated permit spend (past 7 years)

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

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 27%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

4912 California St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

4912 California St event timeline

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

No dated public records on file yet.
Every record we have

Full data for 4912 California St apartments

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

Side by side

How 4912 California St compares to the neighborhood

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