Free SF apartment background check

642 Alvarado St

Noe Valley, SF 94114 2771044 34 units · 3 fl · 1963

This building has far more open problems than almost any other in the neighborhood. Renters here report frequent, slow-to-fix problems. Get repair promises in writing and check the unit before signing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Noe Valley
Above average
avg 1.2
6
FewerMore

This building has 6 novs (7y), above the Noe Valley average of 1.2.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 642 Alvarado 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 1963
2 or more units
34 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM2
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 1963
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
Units34
Floors3
Year built1963
Total area23,790 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot2771044
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Steven C. Thrower 1 Bush St Ste 900 San Francisco CA 94104
Last sale
051820

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

642 Alvarado Street is a 34-unit, 3-story multi-family residential building constructed in 1963, currently owned by 642 Alvarado I7 LP. The property is undergoing significant renovations, including the addition of ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), with recent permits showing work on sound systems, fire safety systems, and various unit improvements between 2022-2024. A major soft-story strengthening project was completed in September 2023, improving the building's seismic safety. The property has experienced recurring fire safety maintenance issues, with violations noted for alarm systems in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and most recently in November 2023 for sleeping area requirements. Building maintenance history shows attention to various unit updates, including laundry installations and window replacements, particularly in units 101, 206, and 207.

The building has faced several significant structural and maintenance challenges over the years, including concerns about support beams in 2011-2012, balcony railing issues in 2015, and water pipe concerns in 2014. Fire safety compliance has been an ongoing focus, with multiple violations addressing alarm systems and extinguisher maintenance between 2008 and 2023. Recent construction activity includes comprehensive improvements to all nine new units' wiring in December 2023, installation of new shower pans, and updates to the building's plumbing and fire safety systems. The property had multiple building violations in 2002-2017 related to fire safety, structural maintenance, and garbage management, all of which were eventually abated. While recent permits show substantial investment in building improvements, including the installation of a new boiler system, water service lines, and fire sprinkler systems, the property has a history of deferred maintenance issues that have gradually been addressed through ongoing renovations.

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

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Risk rating

How 642 Alvarado 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

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
1th percentile

Out of 1879 buildings in this neighborhood, 1860 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
17%
No DBI
violation
83%
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.

Building size

Total floor area — a proxy for building scale and the number of systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) that can fail.

Building permits (past 7 years)

Number of permits pulled at this address — construction or renovation activity over 7 years.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 18.4%
Moderate concern 76.6%
Severe concern 5.0%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

642 Alvarado St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

642 Alvarado St event timeline

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

2026
Building Permit Feb 23
To obtain final inspection for work approved under pa# 202306069350, 202101112473. all work is complete.
$1 · Issued
Fire ComplaintFeb 15
Electrical Systems

See all 32 events

Full history back to 2022 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 642 Alvarado St apartments

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

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Cancel anytime · Data sourced from SF Open Data, DBI, SFFD, SF Rent Board & Planning

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