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521 Judah St

Inner Sunset, SF 94122 1843048 4 units · 2 fl · 1915

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model sees a moderate chance of more in the next 12 months. A few records worth reading before you sign. Check whether they were closed out, and ask what was actually fixed.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Inner Sunset — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.1
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Inner Sunset average of 1.1.

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 521 Judah St 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 1915
2 or more units
4 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 1915
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 built1915
Total area1,869 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot1843048
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Hsieh Kerry 1704 Monticello Rd San Mateo CA 94402
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 521 Judah Street in San Francisco's Inner Sunset neighborhood was constructed in 1915 and is currently owned by Kerry & Ching Shiey Hsieh R. The property has undergone several maintenance and repair works over the years, including reroofing projects in 1992 and 2000, and a gas houseline extension in 2013. A significant mold and mildew issue was documented in July 2001, affecting multiple locations within the building and requiring remediation by August 2001. More recently, in August 2020, there were active complaints about unauthorized construction work, including kitchen remodeling, bathroom addition, and rear extension, though this matter remains unresolved as of the latest available data.

The building has experienced various surface maintenance issues over the years, including reports of a ceiling hole, water ingress, and wall damage in 2001. The property has also been the subject of multiple 311 calls, primarily related to street signage and graffiti between 2012 and 2018. A tenant buyout occurred in May 2022, with one tenant receiving $56,050. The building's history indicates regular maintenance response to roofing needs and some significant interior maintenance challenges, particularly in the early 2000s. Recent complaints suggest ongoing concerns about unauthorized modifications to the property, though these appear to be the most significant building-related issue in recent years.

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

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Risk rating

How 521 Judah St'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
19thpercentile

Out of 1493 buildings in this neighborhood, 1209 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
63%
No DBI
violation
37%
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

Formal complaints tenants filed with DBI about this building over 7 years.

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 37%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

521 Judah St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

521 Judah St event timeline

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

2026
Electrical Permit Jul 09
Upgrade service to 200 amps, rewire all existing lights switches, and outlet install hardwire smoke alarms, install additional outlets where required per code.
Issued

See all 3 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 521 Judah St apartments

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

Side by side

How 521 Judah St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Inner Sunset. 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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