Free SF apartment background check

520 9Th St

South of Market, SF 94103 3526005 12 units · 4 fl · 2016

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model predicts a high risk of further maintenance problems 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 South of Market — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 3.3
1
FewerMore

This building has 1 novs (7y), at or below the South of Market average of 3.3.

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 520 9Th 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 2016
2 or more units
12 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
UMU
Not rent-controlled. Buildings constructed after 1978 are generally exempt from SF rent increase limits under the Costa-Hawkins Act.

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 2016
Annual rent increase cap
5% + CPI, max 10%
Just-cause eviction
After 12 months
Likely exempt from AB 1482. Housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years is exempt from the state rent cap and just-cause rules.

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
Units12
Floors4
Year built2016
Total area15,954 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot3526005
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Declan Dwan 319 Kensington Way San Francisco CA 94127
Last sale
January 30, 2013

Landlord portfolio

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

Unlock complete report
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 12-unit, 4-story multi-family residential building at 520 9th Street in the South of Market neighborhood, constructed in 2016, has experienced several fire safety-related issues over the years. Most recently, in July 2024, violations were issued regarding sleeping area requirements and standpipe system issues, though these have been marked as abated. The building has a history of fire system maintenance challenges, with multiple complaints and violations related to sprinkler/standpipe systems, exit maintenance, and alarm systems between 2021 and 2024. Notable fire safety improvements were made during construction, including the installation of a comprehensive fire sprinkler system ($104,902) and a new fire alarm system ($37,000), along with the required electrical and plumbing infrastructure.

The building's construction and permit history shows proper attention to safety systems, including a 203-head sprinkler system, complete electrical wiring installation, and various structural permits. However, there were multiple boiler permit issues in 2018-2019 that required Code Enforcement intervention, though these violations were eventually abated. Recent 311 calls in January 2025 show recurring issues with garbage and debris outside the building, as well as reports of encampments nearby, though these were generally marked as "Unable to Locate" or "Closed Case Resolved".

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 520 9Th 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
11thpercentile

Out of 430 buildings in this neighborhood, 383 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
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.

Building size

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

Number of units

The number of units affects how the model reads complaint and violation totals — more units means more potential sources.

Neighborhood (ZIP code)

The ZIP code captures local housing market and enforcement patterns that affect all buildings in the area.

12-Month risk forecast
High failure risk 83%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

520 9Th St 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.

The story over time

520 9Th St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Jun 14
Not offensive
building residential
311 RequestMay 20
Not offensive

See all 9 events

Full history back to 2024 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

Unlock complete timeline
Every record we have

Full data for 520 9Th St apartments

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

Side by side

How 520 9Th St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in South of Market. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

Loading comparables…
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.

Pay once

Report Bundle

For the buildings you're deciding on right now

$10one time

3premium reports

$3.33 per report · charged once, never renews

Each credit unlocks one building's premium report for 30 days.

  • 3 premium reports — AI executive summary included
  • Live data across all 27 public record types
  • 200 records per dataset
  • PDF & Excel exports included
  • Compare up to 10 buildings side-by-side
  • Credits never expire until you use them
Pay once

Apartment Hunter

For a wide search across many buildings

$39one time

30premium reports

$1.30 per report · charged once, never renews

Each credit unlocks one building's premium report for 30 days.

  • 30 premium reports — AI executive summary included
  • Live data across all 27 public record types
  • 200 records per dataset
  • PDF & Excel exports included
  • Compare up to 10 buildings side-by-side
  • Credits never expire until you use them

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

Watch 520 9Th St
Get alerted the moment a new violation or complaint is filed.