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257-261 South Van Ness Ave

Inner Mission, SF 94103 3530026 3 units · 3 fl · 1910

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 Inner Mission
At or below average
avg 2.6
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Inner Mission average of 2.6.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 257-261 South Van Ness 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 1910
2 or more units
3 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
CM
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 1910
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
Units3
Floors3
Year built1910
Total area4,734 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot3530026
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
141 Alpine Ter San Francisco CA 94117
Last sale
080819

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.

259 South Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94103
257 South Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94103
261 South Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94103
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-unit multi-family residential building at 257-261 South Van Ness Ave, owned by 257 Svn Llc, was constructed in 1910 and has undergone several significant improvements over the past decade. Most notably, in 2013, substantial renovations were completed including a comprehensive update of two units (257-259) featuring new kitchen cabinets, bathroom fixtures, and appliance installations, along with exploratory demolition work to expose structural elements. The ground floor received accessibility improvements with a chair lift installation and conversion of existing bathrooms to accessible unisex facilities. A martial arts studio was added to the ground floor in 2014, complete with tenant improvements and electrical modifications. The building underwent reroofing in 2012, and an HVAC system update was attempted in 2022 with a furnace installation permit, though this permit has since expired.

The property has experienced some challenges in recent months, particularly in January 2025, with multiple reports of encampments and debris issues in the vicinity, though these were primarily external to the building itself. Fire safety records indicate two complaints (2010 and 2015) were received and resolved, along with several fire-related responses including false alarms and assistance calls, none resulting in injuries or significant incidents. Historical records show the building was involved in earthquake repairs in 1990, and earlier records indicate a canceled demolition permit from 1989 and a completed store conversion in 1982. The building's recent maintenance history suggests active management with regular updates to both residential and commercial spaces, though the frequency of exterior environmental issues in early 2025 is notable.

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

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Risk rating

How 257-261 South Van Ness 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
53th percentile

Out of 2380 buildings in this neighborhood, 1119 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
65%
No DBI
violation
35%
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.

Neighborhood (ZIP code)

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

Building size

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

Neighborhood location

Precise location is a proxy for neighborhood-level risk — some SF blocks have systematically higher DBI activity.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 38.6%
Moderate concern 15.5%
Severe concern 46.0%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

257-261 South Van Ness Ave apartment reviews

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The story over time

257-261 South Van Ness Ave event timeline

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

2025
311 Request Nov 23
Garbage and debris
human waste or urine
311 RequestAug 04
Garbage and debris

See all 4 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 257-261 South Van Ness Ave 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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