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510 37Th Ave

Outer Richmond, SF 94121 1508024 4 units · 2 fl · 1957

Nothing on record for this building in the last seven years. Our model still sees a moderate chance of maintenance problems in the next 12 months, from the owner's wider portfolio and the surrounding area rather than from anything recorded here. 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 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.

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 510 37Th 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 1957
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 1957
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 built1957
Total area3,824 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot1508024
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Chester C Lau 642 21St Ave San Francisco CA 94121
Last sale

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 multi-family residential building at 510 37th Ave in San Francisco's Outer Richmond neighborhood, built in 1957 and currently owned by Chester & Soo Lau 1997 Family Trust, has undergone several significant maintenance and repair projects over the years. The most recent major work was completed in 2013 when the building received stucco repairs on its front and right sides at a cost of $18,000. Historical records show earlier improvements including a failed 2002 attempt to replace front stucco, address dry-rotted wood, and install new vinyl windows, as well as a completed reroofing project from 1997 and compliance work from a 1984 Dahi report.

The building experienced a cluster of fire safety violations in 2003 that were promptly addressed within two months, including issues with fire escape ladders, combustible storage, fire sprinklers, smoke enclosure doors, and smoke detectors in the lobby. Various 311 calls over the years (2015-2024) have primarily concerned external maintenance matters such as graffiti removal, street cleaning, and light repairs, with the most recent incidents being a parking violation (September 2024) and a general cleaning issue (September 2023). Multiple instances of graffiti were reported between 2016-2017, all of which were resolved by the appropriate city departments.

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

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Risk rating

How 510 37Th 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
20thpercentile

Out of 1040 buildings in this neighborhood, 832 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
70%
No DBI
violation
30%
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.

Neighborhood location

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

12-Month risk forecast
Moderate failure risk 30%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

510 37Th Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

510 37Th Ave event timeline

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

2025
311 Request Aug 26
Garbage and debris
other loose garbage debris yard waste

See all 3 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 510 37Th Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 510 37Th 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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