Free SF apartment background check

172 Portola Dr

Twin Peaks, SF 94131 2847019 4 units · 3 fl · 1966

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 Twin Peaks
At or below average
avg 3.0
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Twin Peaks average of 3.0.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 172 Portola Dr 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 1966
2 or more units
4 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM1
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
Units4
Floors3
Year built1966
Total area4,461 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot2847019
Ownership

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

Owner name
Paul Downey Revocable Trust
Mailing address
Paul Downey Trustee 172 Portola Dr Apt 4 San Francisco CA 94131
Last sale
050914

Landlord portfolio

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

Unlock complete report
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-story, four-unit multi-family residential building at 172 Portola Drive in Twin Peaks, owned by the Paul Downey Revocable Trust, was constructed in 1966 and has undergone several significant renovations and maintenance work over the past decades. Recent improvements include the replacement of two street-facing doors in 2022 ($10,200) and a backflow device replacement in 2020. The building has seen substantial interior upgrades, including a 2014 bathroom remodel (with electrical work), a 2010 window-to-door conversion and deck addition project, and a major top unit interior remodel in 2007 that added a bathroom and relocated the kitchen. While most recent work appears compliant, there is currently an active complaint from October 2022 regarding alleged unauthorized window replacement facing the street.

The property has a history of maintenance and safety compliance issues, particularly in 2003-2004 and 2007, when multiple fire safety violations were recorded, including problems with combustible storage, fire escape maintenance, and ceiling damage. The building experienced significant tenant complaints in 1999 regarding elevator issues, and in 2008 regarding unpermitted laundry room modifications with associated safety concerns, though these issues were subsequently addressed. More recent 311 calls from 2021-2024 have primarily concerned exterior maintenance issues like garbage collection and street lighting, as well as some logistical matters regarding waste receptacles. The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of regular upgrading and repairs, though prospective tenants should note the age of the building and its systems, and the historical pattern of occasional maintenance-related tenant complaints.

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

Free account unlocks the full analysis — plus 2× more records across all data categories and the complete landlord portfolio.
Risk rating

How 172 Portola Dr'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
83th percentile

Out of 172 buildings in this neighborhood, 29 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
73%
No DBI
violation
27%
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.

Owner's portfolio size

Number of SF parcels this owner is registered on — larger portfolios have distinct risk patterns.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 64.4%
Moderate concern 19.9%
Severe concern 15.6%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

172 Portola Dr apartment reviews

Real experiences from people who have lived here. Share yours to help other renters decide.

Share your experience — Help other renters by leaving an honest apartment review

Loading reviews…

On the map

Compare nearby alternatives

This building and nearby alternatives, color-coded by risk level. Click any marker to explore.

Buildings nearby
Loading…
The story over time

172 Portola Dr event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Apr 08
Public works
bses complaint
311 RequestMar 26
Public works

See all 6 events

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

Unlock complete timeline
Every record we have

Full data for 172 Portola Dr apartments

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

Still apartment hunting in SF?

Look up the next apartment before you sign

Search any SF address free — no account needed to see the risk rating.

Simple pricing

Get the complete picture

Every plan unlocks the complete report: all 13 SF datasets, full history, landlord portfolio, and PDF & Excel exports.

Report Bundle

For the buildings you're deciding on right now

$10 one-time

~$3.33 per building. No subscription ever. Each credit unlocks one building's premium report for 30 days.

  • 3 full AI-powered reports
  • Download PDF reports
  • Advanced safety analysis
  • Compare multiple buildings
  • Credits never expire until you use them
  • Full public records (200 rows per dataset)
Buy 3 Reports — $10

Apartment Hunter

For a wide search across many buildings

$39 one-time

30 reports — ~$1.30 each. No subscription ever.

  • 30 full AI-powered reports
  • Download PDF reports
  • Advanced safety analysis
  • Compare multiple buildings
  • Credits never expire until you use them
  • Full public records (200 rows per dataset)
Buy 30 Reports — $39

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

Watch 172 Portola Dr
Get alerted the moment a new violation or complaint is filed.