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937 Howard St

South of Market, SF 94103 3732139 3 units · 3 fl · 1907

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model puts this building at a low 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.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 937 Howard 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 1907
2 or more units
3 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RSD
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 1907
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 built1907
Total area4,030 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot3732139
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Nancy O & Vincent Sit Yu Le 171 Tulare St Brisbane CA 94005
Last sale
June 28, 1988

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

937 Howard Street is a three-story multi-family residential building constructed in 1907, currently owned by the Leung Family Trust and consisting of three residential units. The building has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues over the past few decades, with the most serious incident occurring in July 2018 when a structure fire damaged the rear exterior stairs, rendering them unsafe and requiring $12,000 in replacement work. This incident followed a pattern of fire safety concerns, including multiple fire code violations in 2018, blocked exits, and issues with alarm systems and sprinkler systems between 2010 and 2018, all of which were eventually corrected. The building has a history of water-related problems, with documented roof leaks in 2000 and repeated complaints about window leaks in 2005 affecting multiple units. Other maintenance issues have included heating system failures, as evidenced by complaints in 1998 and 1997, and structural concerns with stairs. Recent history from 2025 shows recurring maintenance issues in the surrounding area, particularly regarding street cleaning and debris.

The property has undergone various permitted improvements and repairs over the years, including reroofing in 2000, interior repairs, and electrical upgrades. It has also faced multiple code compliance challenges, most notably in 2000 when unauthorized construction work was reported, leading to enforcement action. The building's fire safety systems have required regular attention, with multiple inspections and corrections needed for alarms, sprinklers, and general fire code compliance. While the building has experienced persistent maintenance challenges, most recent safety and habitability violations appear to have been addressed, though historical patterns suggest ongoing attention to building systems and infrastructure may be necessary.

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

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Risk rating

How 937 Howard 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
90thpercentile

Out of 430 buildings in this neighborhood, 43 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 (ZIP code)

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

Neighborhood location

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

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

937 Howard St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

937 Howard St event timeline

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

2026
Planning Record May 14
ABC referral - Type 41
Submitted
311 RequestMar 16
Other illegal parking

See all 6 events

Full history back to 2025 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 937 Howard St apartments

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

Side by side

How 937 Howard 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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