Free SF apartment background check

388 5Th St

South of Market, SF 94107 3753009 12 units · 3 fl · 1909

This building has far more open problems than almost any other in the neighborhood. Renters here report frequent, slow-to-fix problems. Get repair promises in writing and check the unit before signing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in South of Market
Above average
avg 3.3
9
FewerMore

This building has 9 novs (7y), above the South of Market average of 3.3.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 388 5Th 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 1909
2 or more units
12 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 1909
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 built1909
Total area9,810 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot3753009
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Byrne Jeryn, Ttee 5 St Francis Rd Hillsborough CA 94010
Last sale
012099

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 12-unit, 3-story building at 388 5th Street in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood, constructed in 1909 and currently owned by Jeryn Byrne 2020 Living Trust, has experienced several significant safety and maintenance concerns in recent years. Most recently, in late 2025, the building faced multiple violations related to safety compliance, including requirements for fire escape certification, smoke alarm installations, and carbon monoxide alarm inspections. These violations, all categorized under the Building section, were not active by early 2026, though they indicate ongoing safety maintenance needs.

The building has a concerning history of habitability issues, most notably documented in a January 2023 complaint that detailed multiple unit problems including water leaks from the ceiling, a broken furnace, cold air infiltration, peeling paint, malfunctioning door locks, missing fire alarms with exposed wires, and bathroom mold. The property has also seen three fire incidents in the past seven years, though no recent fire-related violations are currently active. The surrounding area has experienced various 311 service calls, including reports of garbage and debris (including human waste) and encampments, though many of these cases were marked as "Unable to Locate" or "Case Resolved." The building's inspection history shows recurring requirements for documentation and compliance verification, particularly in the areas of fire safety and building maintenance, suggesting ongoing challenges with maintaining required safety standards.

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

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Risk rating

How 388 5Th 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

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
9th percentile

Out of 430 buildings in this neighborhood, 391 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
15%
No DBI
violation
85%
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

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

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 12.0%
Moderate concern 73.5%
Severe concern 14.5%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

388 5Th St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

388 5Th St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Jul 29
Garbage and debris
furniture
311 RequestMar 12
Not offensive

See all 19 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 388 5Th St 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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