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5522 California St

Lake Street, SF 94121 1377021 3 units · 1 fl · 1990

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Few open issues; problems get fixed quickly. A reasonable bet for a smooth tenancy.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Lake Street
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.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 5522 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 1990
2 or more units
3 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM1
Not rent-controlled. Buildings constructed after 1978 are generally exempt from SF rent increase limits under the Costa-Hawkins Act.

Based on SF Assessor records. Not legal advice — confirm with the SF Rent Board.

Building characteristics
Units3
Floors1
Year built1990
Total area4,240 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1377021
Ownership

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

Owner name
Cheung'S San Francisco Prop
Mailing address
Wilson W S Cheung 280 Anzavista Ave San Francisco CA 94115
Last sale
022398

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-unit, one-story multi-family residential building at 5522 California Street was constructed in 1990 after the demolition of a single-family dwelling in late 1987. The current owner, Cheung's San Francisco Prop, has maintained the property through various improvements, including recent work in 2024 involving window replacements, interior repainting, and hardwood floor renovations costing $10,000. The building has undergone several significant maintenance projects over the years, such as re-roofing in 2017 and a comprehensive window upgrade in 2004, which included replacing single-pane windows with double-pane vinyl ones throughout the building, totaling eight windows.

The property has experienced various maintenance issues and safety violations, particularly in the early 2000s, including multiple fire safety concerns (such as the need for sprinklers over garbage receptacles and fire extinguishers) and smoke detector requirements in common areas. A notable building complaint was filed in 2011 regarding water intrusion and mold issues in Unit C, which was resolved by February 2011. Recent maintenance includes a sewer repair in 2019 and various street space permits obtained in 2004 and 2015. The building's exterior has required attention to its facade, with stucco replacement documented in 2004. While the property has had its share of maintenance challenges, recent years have shown proactive management with regular upkeep and improvements, including the most recent window and flooring work in 2024. The area has experienced typical urban issues as evidenced by multiple 311 calls regarding parking violations and street cleaning needs, though these are generally external to the building's operations and maintenance.

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

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Risk rating

How 5522 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

Grade A–B — Low risk

DBI rarely finds violations here. Strong maintenance history and a clean complaint record.

Grade C — Moderate risk

Some past violations or complaints on record. Worth asking the landlord about any open issues before signing.

Grade D–F — High risk

Elevated violation and complaint history. DBI has found issues here before and is statistically likely to again.

Neighborhood percentile
92th percentile

Out of 660 buildings in this neighborhood, 53 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
91%
No DBI
violation
9%
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.

Owner's portfolio size

Number of SF parcels this owner is registered on — larger portfolios have distinct risk patterns.

Estimated permit spend (past 7 years)

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

Number of floors

Building height affects maintenance complexity and is one of the size signals the model uses.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 85.7%
Moderate concern 10.7%
Severe concern 3.5%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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The story over time

5522 California St event timeline

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

2024
311 Request Aug 08
Garbage and debris
furniture
Building PermitMay 15
Replace four windows at the back of the building (second floor) repaint insode and replace all hardwood floor.

See all 4 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 5522 California St apartments

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

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