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520 Natoma St

South of Market, SF 94103 3726058 12 units · 3 fl · 1911

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
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 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 Natoma 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 1911
2 or more units
12 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RED
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 1911
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
Units12
Floors3
Year built1911
Total area5,715 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot3726058
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
520 Natoma St Apt 12 San Francisco CA 94103
Last sale
September 11, 2018

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

Located in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood, 520 Natoma Street is a 3-story, 12-unit multi-family residential building constructed in 1911, currently owned by Usui Minako. The property has undergone several significant renovations and repairs over the past two decades, including a complete electrical rewiring of all 12 units in 2005, multiple unit renovations (notably Unit #9 in 2019), and most recently, a door and sidelites replacement in October 2023 costing $14,490. The building's systems have seen various updates, including a boiler replacement in 2022 and roofing work completed in 2005.

The building has faced several fire safety concerns over the years, with multiple fire violations and complaints regarding alarm systems, extinguishers, and emergency lighting between 2013 and 2023, though these issues appear to have been consistently addressed and abated. Historical concerns from 2004-2005 included various fire safety requirements such as smoke enclosure door closers and fire escape maintenance, which were also resolved. The property has experienced several routine inspections and a few more serious issues, including a sewage backup in 1996 and concerns about possible illegal units in 2006. Recent 311 calls from late 2024 indicate ongoing challenges with street cleaning and debris management in the vicinity, and there is currently one open noise complaint from December 2024. The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of addressing both routine upkeep and more significant renovations, with particular attention paid to fire safety systems and unit modernization.

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

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Risk rating

How 520 Natoma 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
17thpercentile

Out of 430 buildings in this neighborhood, 357 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
23%
No DBI
violation
77%
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.

Neighborhood (ZIP code)

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

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

Formal complaints tenants filed with DBI about this building over 7 years.

12-Month risk forecast
High failure risk 77%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

520 Natoma St apartment reviews

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On the map

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

The story over time

520 Natoma St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Jul 23
Garbage and debris
other loose garbage debris yard waste
311 RequestJul 13
Abandoned vehicle

See all 24 events

Full history back to 2019 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 520 Natoma 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 Natoma St compares to the neighborhood

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

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

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