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1042-1044 Church St

Noe Valley, SF 94114 3628008 2 units · 2 fl · 1941

Nothing on record for this building in the last seven years, and our model puts it at a low risk of maintenance problems over the next 12 months. No public enforcement record to go on. Walk the building, ask the current tenants how repairs get handled, and get any promises in writing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Noe Valley — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.2
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Noe Valley average of 1.2.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1042-1044 Church 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 1941
2 or more units
2 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.

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 1941
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
Units2
Floors2
Year built1941
Total area2,835 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot3628008
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Michelle A Birch Trustee 1042 Church St San Francisco CA 94114
Last sale
May 31, 2000

Landlord portfolio

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

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.

1042 Church St, San Francisco, CA 94114
1044 Church St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The two-unit multi-family residential building at 1042-1044 Church Street in Noe Valley, owned by the Michelle A Birch Trust, was constructed in 1941 and spans two stories. The property has undergone several significant modifications, with the most notable occurring in 2014 when multiple violations were documented regarding unauthorized construction, including the creation of two unpermitted rooms in the basement, relocation of water heaters, and questionable electrical work. These violations, which raised safety concerns about electrical access and ventilation, were subsequently addressed through various permits - including electrical, plumbing, and building permits - with the work being completed and violations closed by 2016. The building's maintenance history shows attention to basic upkeep, including a garage roof replacement in 2010 (cost: $3,000) and a gas houseline extension in 2021. Earlier renovation work was attempted in 2007 to modify the lower level unit, though this permit ultimately expired.

The property has a documented history of addressing compliance issues, particularly in 2014 when several notices of violation were issued and subsequently resolved. These included concerns about security features, inadequate lighting, and the need for proper permit documentation for various building modifications. More recent activity near the property has been primarily related to exterior maintenance and street conditions, with multiple 311 calls between 2018-2024 reporting issues such as garbage and debris removal, illegal parking, and a damaged tree (2024). While the building has experienced periods of violation and compliance issues, the most recent documented repairs and plumbing work suggest that major building code violations have been addressed, though ongoing maintenance and exterior cleaning appear to be periodic concerns.

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

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Risk rating

How 1042-1044 Church 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
75thpercentile

Out of 1879 buildings in this neighborhood, 470 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
86%
No DBI
violation
14%
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 location

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

Construction spend, owner's portfolio

Estimated permit value across all of this owner's buildings.

Building age

Older buildings tend to have more maintenance challenges; SF's pre-1906 earthquake housing stock carries distinct risk.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 14%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1042-1044 Church St apartment reviews

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The story over time

1042-1044 Church St event timeline

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

2021
Plumbing Permit May 12
Work category: 1p; gas houseline ext
Complete

See all 1 events

Full history back to 2021 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 1042-1044 Church St apartments

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

Side by side

How 1042-1044 Church St compares to the neighborhood

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

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