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550-552 20Th Ave

Central Richmond, SF 94121 1562031 2 units · 2 fl · 1923

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Few open issues; problems get fixed quickly. A reasonable bet for a smooth tenancy.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Central Richmond
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 550-552 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 1923
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.

Building characteristics
Units2
Floors2
Year built1923
Total area2,720 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot1562031
Ownership

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

Owner name
Farkas Benjamin F
Mailing address
552 20th Ave San Francisco CA 94121
Last sale
041919

Landlord portfolio

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

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

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

550 20th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
552 20th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The property at 550-552 20th Avenue is a two-unit, two-story multi-family residential building located in the Central Richmond neighborhood. Built in 1923, the building has undergone several significant improvements over the years, with the most recent work being a roof replacement completed in February 2024 and the installation of a heat pump water heater in April 2024, demonstrating ongoing maintenance and energy efficiency upgrades by owner Benjamin Farkas. Major renovations were conducted in 2007-2008, including substantial interior improvements such as kitchen and bathroom remodels, window replacements, and structural maintenance. The 2007 renovations encompassed electrical system upgrades, the installation of new heating systems including furnaces and water heaters, and the addition of a rear deck for the lower unit. During the same period, structural pest control repairs were completed to address issues with the foundation sill, back stairs, bathroom wall, entry stairs, and window soffits.

The building has an accessible maintenance history, with all major permits marked as complete. While there have been multiple parking-related incidents near the property, with at least eight citations issued for blocked driveways between 2021 and 2024, these external issues do not directly affect the building's condition or resident experience. The property has shown consistent upkeep, with recent upgrades focusing on modernizing systems and improving energy efficiency, including the recent transition from a gas water heater to a heat pump system and the 2024 roof replacement. The extensive 2007 renovation work, which included comprehensive electrical, plumbing, and structural improvements, suggests a significant investment in the building's infrastructure that has likely contributed to its current condition.

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

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Risk rating

How 550-552 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

Grade A–B — Low risk

DBI rarely finds violations here. Strong maintenance history and a clean complaint record.

Grade C — Moderate risk

Some past violations or complaints on record. Worth asking the landlord about any open issues before signing.

Grade D–F — High risk

Elevated violation and complaint history. DBI has found issues here before and is statistically likely to again.

Neighborhood percentile
76th percentile

Out of 2250 buildings in this neighborhood, 540 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
88%
No DBI
violation
12%
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.

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.

Building age

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

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 83.6%
Moderate concern 12.3%
Severe concern 4.1%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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The story over time

550-552 20Th Ave event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Apr 03
Blocking driveway cite only
Parking Enforcement

See all 5 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 550-552 20Th Ave apartments

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

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