Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Why is the place illegal? If it is illegal, then logically you have no rights as you are not a "tenant". You can try to see if you or the landlord can do anything to make it legal. For the period of time you knew it was illegal you can not claim any rent paid back. You might be able to claim for the period you did not know it was illegal the difference between the price you paid and what its value was, but that probably will be difficult to achieve.