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538 42Nd Ave

Outer Richmond, SF 94121 1503037 2 units · 3 fl · 1993

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 Outer Richmond — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 0.7
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Outer Richmond average of 0.7.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 538 42Nd 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 1993
2 or more units
2 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH2
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.

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 1993
Annual rent increase cap
5% + CPI, max 10%
Just-cause eviction
After 12 months
May be covered by AB 1482. The building is old enough for the statewide rent cap (5% + regional CPI, capped at 10% per year) and just-cause protection after 12 months of tenancy.

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 built1993
Total area3,823 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1503037
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
10112 Senate Way Cupertino CA 95014
Last sale
June 17, 2005

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-story multi-family residential building at 538 42nd Avenue in the Outer Richmond, owned by Nina Felshtiner, was constructed in 1989 as a two-unit structure following the demolition of a single-family home. The building's history reveals several significant events, the most concerning being a pattern of plumbing issues, with multiple sewer backup incidents reported between 2020-2023. The property has also experienced air quality concerns, with an active violation from 2019 regarding fresh air inlet issues that has not been resolved as of the latest review. A water intrusion complaint was filed in March 2023, though this is no longer active, and there has been at least one tree maintenance issue reported in April 2019.

The building's permit history shows a complex pattern of modifications and regulatory compliance efforts. In 2000, there was a significant permit issued to legalize various spaces and remove an illegal ground floor unit, though this followed a violation complaint from 2000 about an unauthorized two-room apartment behind the garage. The original construction and subsequent modifications in the early 1990s included fire sprinkler installation and various partition installations between garage and utility spaces, though several permits expired before completion. The most recent sidewalk defect was reported in May 2024, and there has been at least one parking enforcement issue related to sidewalk parking in September 2021.

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

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Risk rating

How 538 42Nd 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
44thpercentile

Out of 1040 buildings in this neighborhood, 582 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.

Neighborhood location

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

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

538 42Nd Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

538 42Nd Ave event timeline

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

2023
DBI Complaint Mar 27
Water intrusion at the window.
Housing Inspection Services

See all 1 events

Full history back to 2023 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 538 42Nd Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 538 42Nd Ave compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Outer Richmond. 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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