While the original terms of the Academy of Art University’s nearly $60 million settlement with the City of San Francisco – to resolve allegations that the institution had systematically schemed to violate state and local laws in its acquisition and use of real estate holdings in San Francisco over... Read More »

Having been accused of routinely engaging in the under-permitted renovation and expansion of residential properties throughout San Francisco, Ashok Gujral, a local real estate developer, has agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle with the City. In addition to the cash settlement, Gujral has been required “to bring all... Read More »

The number of formal complaints related to illegal short-term rental activity in San Francisco has continued to drop, with around 130 complaints lodged in the first half of 2019, which is down nearly 30 percent versus the same time last year and 60 percent fewer than the roughly 320... Read More »

Six years ago, the plans for the four-story infill development at 2867-2899 San Bruno Avenue in Portola were drawn, approved and subsequently constructed. Technically five separate buildings, with 10 residential units over 10 “non-residential” office units and 5 ground floor commercial spaces as designed in order to conform to... Read More »

Back in 1999, Caroline Novak appears to have fraudulently purchased a below market rate (BMR) condo at 300 Beale Street, having failed to disclose that she already co-owned property in San Mateo which would have disqualified her from participating in San Francisco’s BMR program. Having paid $178,500 for the... Read More »

Having been charged with evicting tenants from rent-controlled units and then illegally marketing the apartments as short-term rentals on Airbnb, Homeway and VRBO, Darren and Valerie Lee agreed to pay $276,000 in penalties and fees back in 2015. As we first reported at the time, the settlement included injunctive... Read More »

The number of formal complaints related to illegal short-term rental activity in San Francisco has continued to drop, with a total of 231 complaints lodged in the first three quarters of the year, down nearly 50 percent versus 2017 and 55 percent fewer than the 516 lodged in the... Read More »

The one-bedroom Bernal Heights home at 121 Gates Street was seriously damaged by a fire back in 2016, after which its entry was fenced and secured from those attempting to trespass. Nine months ago near the end of 2017, the property traded hands for $700,000. This past June, plans... Read More »

According to the host’s profile on Airbnb, which has been “ID Checked,” he’s an “Interior designer for tech elite.” And while past listings for his “SF Batch Pad by bars,” or “Stationary pad…on private property,” have noted that said pad is a (shared) bus, according to a recent... Read More »

Having secured a permit to simply conduct an “exploratory demo to determine sheetrock and termite damage,” the new owner of the Bernal Heights home at 310 Moncalm Street, which was purchased for $925,000 in November of 2015, began a full remodel and expansion of the property. Flagged by neighbors... Read More »