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28-34 Highland Ave

Bernal Heights, SF 94110 6688025 4 units · 2 fl · 1915

This building has significantly more problems than most nearby buildings. 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 28-34 Highland 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 1915
2 or more units
4 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 1915
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
Units4
Floors2
Year built1915
Total area4,028 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot6688025
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Steven C. Thrower & Au Yat- 1 Bush St Ste 900 San Francisco CA 94104
Last sale
091417

Landlord portfolio

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

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

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

32 Highland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
28 Highland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
34 Highland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
30 Highland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 2-story, 4-unit multi-family residential building at 28-34 Highland Avenue in Bernal Heights, constructed in 1915, has undergone significant renovations and faced several challenges in recent years. Between 2014 and 2016, substantial improvements were made to the property, including comprehensive unit renovations in apartments #28, #32, #30, and #34 involving bathroom additions, kitchen remodels, and various utility upgrades. Most notably, the building received new tankless water heaters for units #28, #32, and #34 in 2016, along with various plumbing and electrical improvements totaling over $300,000 in permitted work.

However, the building experienced some serious issues in 2015. A cluster of violations was documented in August 2015, including problems with smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, egress obstructions, sanitation issues, and concerns about lead paint, all of which were abated by September 25, 2015. There were also reports of fungus and beetle damage requiring repairs to the rear porch and stairs, as documented in a January 2016 permit. Complaints filed in July-August 2015 revealed tenant concerns about construction impacts, including plumbing work without proper permits, removal of a space heater vent, and living conditions during extensive building renovations. The property underwent multiple routine inspections by Housing Inspection Services during this period, and an unusual incident involving a smoke scare was recorded with no civilian injuries reported.

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

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Risk rating

How 28-34 Highland 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
17th percentile

Out of 1276 buildings in this neighborhood, 1059 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
56%
No DBI
violation
44%
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.

Neighborhood location

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

Building age

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

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 33.3%
Moderate concern 22.1%
Severe concern 44.6%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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The story over time

28-34 Highland Ave event timeline

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

2026
311 Request May 30
Parking on sidewalk
Parking Enforcement
311 RequestFeb 22
Parking on sidewalk

See all 3 events

Full history back to 2025 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 28-34 Highland Ave apartments

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

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