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1398 Palou Ave

Bayview, SF 94124 4731013 2 units · 2 fl · 1900

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 Bayview — not a forecast
Above average
avg 4.6
31
FewerMore

This building has 31 novs (7y), above the Bayview average of 4.6.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1398 Palou Ave 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 1900
2 or more units
2 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH1
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 1900
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 built1900
Total area2,280 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot4731013
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Gray Willis & Jessie B Trus 444 Princeton St San Francisco CA 94124
Last sale
—

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The two-unit residential building at 1398 Palou Ave in Bayview, owned by the Gray family, has undergone several significant renovations and faced multiple repair challenges since its construction in 1900. Most recently, in 2024, the property has seen HVAC system upgrades, including the installation of a new heat pump and related electrical work. This followed a "no heat" complaint in early 2024, which, along with similar issues from 2019, indicates recurring heating system concerns. The building has a history of maintenance issues, particularly evident in 2019 when multiple violations were documented, including problems with interior surfaces, plumbing systems, and sanitation that resulted in orders for repairs to walls, floors, tub/shower fixtures, and kitchen cabinets, as well as addressing a cockroach infestation and installing smoke detectors - all of which were marked as abated by May 2019.

Earlier improvements to the property include a kitchen remodel in 2020 (following a complaint about unauthorized construction work), reroofing in 2003, window replacements in 1997, and a substantial addition in 1984 that expanded bedrooms, bathrooms, stairs, and foundation elements. The building's infrastructure has been modernized over the years, with an underground electrical service conversion completed in 2008. More recent maintenance history shows attention to heating system upgrades, though the recurring heat-related complaints suggest ongoing challenges with climate control systems. The property has also faced occasional plumbing challenges, as evidenced by a 1999 complaint about sewage issues. Outside the building, recent 311 calls from late 2024 primarily relate to waste management and street cleaning matters, which while not directly affecting building residents, provide context about the immediate surroundings.

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

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Risk rating

How 1398 Palou Ave'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
7thpercentile

Out of 382 buildings in this neighborhood, 355 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
19%
No DBI
violation
81%
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.

NOV rate, owner's portfolio

Per-building NOV rate across everything this owner manages — high rates signal pattern neglect.

Notices of Violation (past 7 years)

DBI issued Notices of Violation at this address over the last 7 years — a direct record of code enforcement activity.

Neighborhood location

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

12-Month risk forecast
High failure risk 81%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1398 Palou Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

1398 Palou Ave event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Jun 29
Garbage and debris
other loose garbage debris yard waste
DBI ComplaintMay 05
Date last observed: 04-may-26; time last observed: today; exact location: main bldg; building type: residence/dwelling broken sewer; plumbing leak; ; additional information: water coming out of steps, draining into street 24/7. was worked on months ago but now smells like a sewer/shit;

See all 17 events

Full history back to 2020 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 1398 Palou Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 1398 Palou Ave compares to the neighborhood

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