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142 20Th Ave

Lake Street, SF 94121 1379029 2 units · 3 fl · 1915

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.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 142 20Th 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 1915
2 or more units
2 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 1915
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
Units2
Floors3
Year built1915
Total area4,475 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot1379029
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Hu Serena S & Lenox John C 142 20Th Ave San Francisco CA 94121
Last sale
December 03, 1999

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The property at 142 20th Avenue is a three-story multi-family residential building constructed in 1915, currently owned by the Hu Lenox Family Trust and containing two units. The building has undergone several significant improvements and maintenance work over the past two decades, with the most recent major renovation occurring in 2014, which included a partial interior remodel of the fourth floor, roof deck improvements, and window replacements, costing approximately $80,000. That same year saw substantial electrical upgrades, including the installation of a new electrical system on the fourth floor with outlets and lighting, and the addition of gas lines to support a deck heater and barbecue. The building's infrastructure has been consistently maintained, with records showing previous roof deck repairs in 2004 due to decay, complete rewiring in 2003, and the installation of an electric car meter in 2018.

The property has experienced typical urban residential challenges as evidenced by 311 calls, primarily related to parking issues and routine street maintenance matters, though a CO detector malfunction was recorded as a fire incident (with no injuries). Recent maintenance and service requests have been limited, with the most recent service request made in February 2024. The building's maintenance history suggests regular upkeep, with major systems such as electrical and plumbing receiving appropriate attention over the years, including the installation of modern amenities like an electric car charging system, while preserving the structure's historical character through thoughtful rehabilitation projects.

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

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Risk rating

How 142 20Th 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
39thpercentile

Out of 660 buildings in this neighborhood, 403 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
81%
No DBI
violation
19%
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.

Permit rate, owner's portfolio

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

Building age

Older buildings tend to have more maintenance challenges; SF's pre-1906 earthquake housing stock carries distinct risk.

Construction spend, owner's portfolio

Estimated permit value across all of this owner's buildings.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 19%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

142 20Th Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

142 20Th Ave 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 142 20Th Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 142 20Th Ave compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Lake Street. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

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

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