Free SF apartment background check

402-404 Cortland Ave

Bernal Heights, SF 94110 5678023 2 units · 2 fl · 1900

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Few open issues; problems get fixed quickly. A reasonable bet for a smooth tenancy.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Bernal Heights
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.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 402-404 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 1900
2 or more units
2 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
NC2
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.

Building characteristics
Units2
Floors2
Year built1900
Total area2,376 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot5678023
Ownership

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

Owner name
Ken & Amy Shelf Revoc Tr
Mailing address
28 Gladys St San Francisco CA 94110
Last sale
100411

Landlord portfolio

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

Unlock complete report
Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

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

404 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
402 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The property at 402-404 Cortland Ave in Bernal Heights is a two-story multi-family residential building with storefront space, containing two units, and was built in 1900. The building's maintenance history shows several significant improvements, including a complete reroofing project in 2012 costing $13,450, window replacements in 1998, an electrical upgrade to a 180-amp underground system in 2005, and various renovations in the 1990s. However, the building has faced serious regulatory and safety concerns in recent years, with the most pressing issue currently being an active complaint filed in September 2024 regarding an unauthorized conversion to a karate gym in the commercial space. Of particular concern is a pattern of unauthorized modifications and safety violations, including multiple complaints about an illegal attic unit between 2015-2019, where an unauthorized kitchen, inadequate bathroom facilities, lack of windows, and improper egress conditions were reported. Historical records show previous attempts at construction modifications in the 1980s, including structural alterations and electrical work, though some permits were withdrawn or expired.

The property has experienced various maintenance and infrastructure issues, as evidenced by multiple 311 calls between 2022-2024, including instances of garbage overflow, sewage backup, and general street cleaning needs. While many recent garbage-related complaints have been resolved promptly, they indicate ongoing waste management challenges in the area. The building's age and history suggest regular maintenance has been performed over the years, including roofing, siding, and window improvements, though the appearance of recent illegal modifications raises concerns about proper oversight of building systems and safety compliance. The property is currently owned by the Ken & Amy Shelf Revocable Trust.

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

Free account unlocks the full analysis — plus 2× more records across all data categories and the complete landlord portfolio.
Risk rating

How 402-404 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

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
39th percentile

Out of 1276 buildings in this neighborhood, 778 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
67%
No DBI
violation
33%
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.

Property class: apartment building

Apartment building — this property classification influences expected violation rates.

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.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 67.5%
Moderate concern 26.4%
Severe concern 6.1%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

402-404 Cortland Ave apartment reviews

Real experiences from people who have lived here. Share yours to help other renters decide.

Share your experience — Help other renters by leaving an honest apartment review

Loading reviews…

On the map

Compare nearby alternatives

This building and nearby alternatives, color-coded by risk level. Click any marker to explore.

Buildings nearby
Loading…
The story over time

402-404 Cortland Ave event timeline

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

2024
DBI Complaint Sep 16
Date last observed: 13-sep-24; exact location: main bldg; building type: commercial/business work w/o permit; illegal change of use; ; additional information: new karate gym ;
Building Inspection Division

See all 1 events

Full history back to 2024 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

Unlock complete timeline
Every record we have

Full data for 402-404 Cortland Ave apartments

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

Still apartment hunting in SF?

Look up the next apartment before you sign

Search any SF address free — no account needed to see the risk rating.

Simple pricing

Get the complete picture

Every plan unlocks the complete report: all 13 SF datasets, full history, landlord portfolio, and PDF & Excel exports.

Report Bundle

For the buildings you're deciding on right now

$10 one-time

~$3.33 per building. No subscription ever. Each credit unlocks one building's premium report for 30 days.

  • 3 full AI-powered reports
  • Download PDF reports
  • Advanced safety analysis
  • Compare multiple buildings
  • Credits never expire until you use them
  • Full public records (200 rows per dataset)
Buy 3 Reports — $10

Apartment Hunter

For a wide search across many buildings

$39 one-time

30 reports — ~$1.30 each. No subscription ever.

  • 30 full AI-powered reports
  • Download PDF reports
  • Advanced safety analysis
  • Compare multiple buildings
  • Credits never expire until you use them
  • Full public records (200 rows per dataset)
Buy 30 Reports — $39

Cancel anytime · Data sourced from SF Open Data, DBI, SFFD, SF Rent Board & Planning

Watch 402-404 Cortland Ave
Get alerted the moment a new violation or complaint is filed.