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19-21 Cortland Ave

Bernal Heights, SF 94110 5673017 2 units · 2 fl · 1902

Nothing on record for this building in the last seven years. Our model still sees a moderate chance of maintenance problems in the next 12 months, from the owner's wider portfolio and the surrounding area rather than from anything recorded here. No public enforcement record to go on. Walk the building, ask the current tenants how repairs get handled, and get any promises in writing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Bernal Heights — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.2
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Bernal Heights average of 1.2.

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 19-21 Cortland 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 1902
2 or more units
2 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 1902
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 built1902
Total area3,100 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot5673017
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Winn Bright Ttee 3973 17Th St Apt A San Francisco CA 94114
Last sale
September 17, 2021

Landlord portfolio

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

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.

21 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
19 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The two-unit residential building at 19-21 Cortland Ave in Bernal Heights is a two-story flats and duplex structure constructed in 1902, currently owned by the Bright Winn 2018 Revocable Living Trust. The property has undergone significant seismic improvements in 2022, including foundation repairs and the installation of steel columns, with a total cost of $135,000. Current work is ongoing to convert existing storage into an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on the first floor, following state ADU program guidelines with a budget of $255,000.

The building's maintenance history shows regular attention to structural elements, including wood exterior stairs repairs in 2017, reroofing in 2015, and window upgrades in 2007. A notable cluster of activity occurred in 2022-2023, including multiple building permit revisions and seismic retrofits. The property has experienced several maintenance and regulatory challenges, including a possible illegal unit investigation in 1994, withdrawal of a preschool conversion proposal in 2022, and recent concerns about unpermitted dwelling units (UDU) discovered during screenings. While there have been multiple 311 calls regarding parking violations and street maintenance in the vicinity, these are external to the building itself and primarily concern public street usage.

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

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Risk rating

How 19-21 Cortland 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
19thpercentile

Out of 1276 buildings in this neighborhood, 1034 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
57%
No DBI
violation
43%
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 location

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

Neighborhood (ZIP code)

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

Building age

Older buildings tend to have more maintenance challenges; SF's pre-1906 earthquake housing stock carries distinct risk.

12-Month risk forecast
Moderate failure risk 43%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

19-21 Cortland Ave apartment reviews

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The story over time

19-21 Cortland Ave event timeline

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

2025
Fire Complaint Nov 04
Blocked Exits
No Merit
Building PermitJun 24
Relocate 4 sprinkler heads and drop 1 ref 202206216740

See all 11 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 19-21 Cortland Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 19-21 Cortland Ave compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Bernal Heights. 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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