Free SF apartment background check

789 Carolina St

Potrero Hill, SF 94107 4097042A 9 units · 3 fl · 1962

This building has a substantial enforcement record over the last seven years, and our model predicts continuing maintenance failures over the next 12 months. Read the records below before you sign. Ask which issues were resolved, get repair commitments in writing, and inspect the unit yourself.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Potrero Hill — not a forecast
Above average
avg 1.1
9
FewerMore

This building has 9 novs (7y), above the Potrero Hill average of 1.1.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 789 Carolina 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 1962
2 or more units
9 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH2
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 1962
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
Units9
Floors3
Year built1962
Total area6,858 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot4097042A
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
32 Thomas Dr Mill Valley CA 94941
Last sale
April 09, 2010

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 9-unit, 3-story apartment building at 789 Carolina Street in Potrero Hill, owned by Marlie, LLC, has undergone significant renovations and faced several maintenance challenges since its construction in 1962. Most recently, in April 2024, Unit 4 received a comprehensive remodel including kitchen and bathroom updates with associated plumbing and electrical work ($35,000). The building has seen substantial safety system improvements, including the installation of a new fire sprinkler system in 2022 covering 11 heads in the ground floor and garage, as well as a new fire alarm system in 2021 with various safety features. However, there have been recurring fire safety concerns, with the most recent violations in May 2024 related to the alarm system maintenance and extinguisher servicing, though these were subsequently abated.

The property has experienced several significant issues affecting resident comfort and safety over the years. In April 2021, there were multiple complaints regarding lack of heat and window installation concerns in Unit 9, which led to inspections and required corrections. During 2019, the building underwent various renovations including kitchen remodels in multiple units, window replacement, and dry rot repairs, though some work was performed beyond the scope of permitted activities. The building's elevator has required attention, with an outage reported in August 2019, and there have been periodic fire safety concerns, particularly regarding extinguishers and sprinkler systems, though these issues were typically resolved promptly. Recent infrastructure work has included the addition of an ADU studio at the ground floor, completed under Ordinance 162-16, and various unit upgrades including window replacement and siding repairs.

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

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Risk rating

How 789 Carolina 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
1stpercentile

Out of 726 buildings in this neighborhood, 719 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
14%
No DBI
violation
86%
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.

Building size

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

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 86%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

789 Carolina St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

789 Carolina St event timeline

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

2026
Fire Complaint Mar 05
Alarm Systems
Violation Issued
Fire ComplaintMar 05
Extinguishers

See all 29 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 789 Carolina St apartments

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

Side by side

How 789 Carolina St compares to the neighborhood

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