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555-557 20Th Ave

Central Richmond, SF 94121 1563009 2 units · 2 fl · 1918

This building has significantly more problems than most nearby buildings. 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 555-557 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 1918
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 built1918
Total area3,381 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot1563009
Ownership

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

Owner name
Gee William York Lai
Mailing address
555 - 557 20th Ave San Francisco CA 94121
Last sale
120512

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.

555 20th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
557 20th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The two-unit residential building at 555-557 20th Avenue in San Francisco's Central Richmond neighborhood is a 2-story flats and duplex structure built in 1918, currently owned by William York Lai Gee. The property underwent significant renovation work in 2006-2008, including a major $185,000 remodeling project of the rear portion of the building that added new living spaces across multiple floors, followed by revisions in late 2008 to modify interior stair configurations and footings. This phase of work included comprehensive upgrades to electrical systems with a new 200-amp service installation, new plumbing for two kitchens and four bathrooms, and the installation of numerous modern amenities such as smoke detectors, appliances, and electrical fixtures.

Earlier maintenance records show attention to basic upkeep matters, including stucco replacement in 1990, window sealing and dry rot repairs in 2004, and reroofing work in 1995. More recently, there have been some neighborhood-related issues noted, including a 2024 complaint about possible sidewalk encroachment and a 2020 noise complaint regarding nearby construction activities. A hazardous materials incident involving liquid substances was reported and resolved in March 2023. The property obtained a rear yard variance approval, indicating compliance with necessary planning requirements. While the building's documented history shows regular maintenance and significant modernization work, the most pressing recent issue appears to be the potential sidewalk encroachment noted in 2024, though this complaint is currently marked as not active.

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

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Risk rating

How 555-557 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
11th percentile

Out of 2250 buildings in this neighborhood, 2002 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
58%
No DBI
violation
42%
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.

DBI complaint rate, owner's portfolio

Per-building complaint rate across the owner's portfolio.

Permit rate, owner's portfolio

Per-building permit rate across the owner's portfolio.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 46.8%
Moderate concern 35.5%
Severe concern 17.6%
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

555-557 20Th Ave event timeline

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

2024
DBI Complaint May 20
Date last observed: 17-may-24; time last observed: lead work.. also encroachment; exact location: main bldg; building type: residence/dwelling other housing; other disabled access; ; additional information: encroachment of sidewalk ;
Building Inspection Division

See all 2 events

Full history back to 2020 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 555-557 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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