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159-161 Leland Ave

Visitacion Valley, SF 94134 6251023 3 units · 2 fl · 1900

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model puts this building at a low risk of further maintenance problems in the next 12 months. A few records worth reading before you sign. Check whether they were closed out, and ask what was actually fixed.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Visitacion Valley — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.4
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Visitacion Valley average of 1.4.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 159-161 Leland 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
3 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.

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
Units3
Floors2
Year built1900
Total area3,600 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot6251023
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Bing Fai Chu, Trustee 253 Peabody St San Francisco CA 94134
Last sale
October 27, 1988

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.

159 Leland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134
161 Leland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 159-161 Leland Avenue property is a 2-story, 3-unit multi-family residential building constructed in 1900 and currently owned by the Chu Family Trust. The building has recently undergone significant maintenance work, including two separate roofing projects in September 2024, with costs totaling between $13,500 and $18,000. The electrical system received an upgrade in 2003 with the installation of a 300-amp overhead service. A concerning active electrical complaint from March 2023 involves exposed wires and safety concerns following maintenance work, which the landlord allegedly dismissed as merely unappealing. Additionally, there is an active plumbing complaint from November 1999 regarding leaking sink and shower fixtures causing odor issues.

The building's history shows a pattern of routine inspections and violations, particularly in 2001 and 2006, addressing various safety and maintenance issues including stair repairs, fire safety compliance, and security requirements. All these violations were eventually abated, though the most recent electrical complaint from 2023 remains open. Prior issues have included problems with gas meter safety, combustible storage, and handrail requirements, all of which were resolved. The property has experienced several maintenance-focused work permits, including a cancelled garage addition permit from 1985 and a completed code compliance permit from 1984. Recent public service requests from 2020-2024 primarily concern exterior maintenance issues such as garbage debris, sidewalk cleaning, and a missing side sewer vent cover, which were generally resolved through appropriate channels. The building's historical improvements and repairs suggest ongoing maintenance efforts, though the recent electrical safety concerns warrant particular attention.

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

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Risk rating

How 159-161 Leland 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
38thpercentile

Out of 214 buildings in this neighborhood, 133 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
82%
No DBI
violation
18%
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.

DBI complaints, owner's portfolio

Complaints across all of this owner's buildings over 7 years.

Building age

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

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 18%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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On the map

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Buildings nearby
8 found
The story over time

159-161 Leland Ave event timeline

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

2025
Electrical Permit Nov 10
Sub-panel replacement
Complete
311 RequestJul 26
Garbage and debris

See all 6 events

Full history back to 2023 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 159-161 Leland Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 159-161 Leland Ave compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Visitacion Valley. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

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