438-440 10th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94118

The property at 438-440 10th Avenue in the Inner Richmond is a two-story multi-family residential building constructed in 1916, currently owned by the Ko Family Trust since October 2017. The building consists of three units and has undergone several significant renovations and faced numerous compliance issues over the years. Most recently, in October 2023, there were permitted kitchen remodeling works ($25,000) and associated plumbing and electrical work, though there were also complaints about unauthorized work.

This follows a history of concerning maintenance issues in the early 2000s, including multiple housing code violations filed in 2004-2005 related to water damage, mold/mildew, interior surface repairs, and fire safety concerns, all of which were officially abated by January 2005. The building underwent an important transition in 2004 when work was completed to revert the first and second floors from multiple units back to their original configuration. Earlier complaints from 2001 had reported illegal apartment conversions, and in 2003 there were concerns about an unauthorized deck construction.

More recent tenant complaints from September 2023 have surfaced regarding potential unpermitted work, particularly focusing on kitchen and bathroom renovations, with past patterns suggesting this may not be an isolated issue. The property has experienced various maintenance challenges over the years, including heating issues, water leaks, and fire safety concerns, though many of these historical violations have been resolved. Infrastructure-related 311 calls suggest some recurring issues with sewer systems, with reports in 2009 and 2010. The building underwent a bathroom remodel in 2005, and more recently (2023) there has been verified electrical and plumbing work related to kitchen improvements.