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538-540 19Th Ave

Central Richmond, SF 94121 1561032 2 units · 2 fl · 1978

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 Central Richmond — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 0.5
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Central Richmond average of 0.5.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 538-540 19Th 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 1978
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 1978
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
Floors2
Year built1978
Total area3,190 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot1561032
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Mary D Lau Trustee 540 19Th 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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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.

538 19th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
540 19th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The property at 538-540 19th Avenue is a two-unit residential building located in the Central Richmond neighborhood, constructed in 1978 and currently owned by a trust with Mary D. Lau as the grantor. The two-story flats/duplex building has undergone several significant renovations over the past two decades, most notably a comprehensive kitchen remodel in 2018 costing approximately $22,347 that included new cabinets, countertops, eight recessed lights, and various electrical upgrades, along with associated plumbing work for sink and dishwasher installation. Earlier improvements from 2010 included a master bathroom conversion from bathtub to shower, complete with new fixtures and tiling, plus similar updates to a second-floor bathroom, with corresponding electrical work for new lighting and fixtures. The building's roofing was addressed in 1998, though that permit has since expired.

In recent months, the property has experienced numerous parking-related incidents, with multiple reports of blocked driveways between May 2024 and January 2024, resulting in several citations being issued by parking enforcement. Specifically, there have been eight reported cases of driveway blocking in 2024, with four resulting in citations, while others were marked as "Unable to Locate" or had their cases resolved through other means. The most recent complaints include two blocking driveway incidents on December 7, 2024, and a tree maintenance issue logged with Urban Forestry on November 13, 2024, though its status remains open. These recent parking enforcement actions suggest ongoing challenges with parking management in the immediate vicinity of the property, though they are primarily external issues not directly related to the building's condition or maintenance.

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

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Risk rating

How 538-540 19Th 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
80thpercentile

Out of 2250 buildings in this neighborhood, 450 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
89%
No DBI
violation
11%
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.

Construction spend, owner's portfolio

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

Estimated permit spend (past 7 years)

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

Building permits, owner's portfolio

Permits pulled across all of this owner's buildings over 7 years.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 11%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

538-540 19Th Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

538-540 19Th 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 538-540 19Th Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 538-540 19Th Ave compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Central 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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