HI Every one!
I am new to the LA Loft thing. My BF and I moved in to a loft south of the Toy Lofts, and National Biscuit Lofts in December. We so loved the look and feel of the building, but soon started finding really bad faults with the Re-construction of this place.
We then found out that one of our neighbours was moving out, and that there may in fact be no certificate of occupancy on the building.
I started doing research down at LADBS (LA Department of Building & Safety).
Turns out that there was no CO on this place and since there was pending litigation the city was starting to get involved. So we now are moving once again, and will probably have to follow suit with our ex neighbour.
If your looking at a rental my best advice for you is to go to the LADBS website www.ladbs.org/ and do a Property Activity Report on the address you are looking at.
It will tell you if there is a C of O on the property, and if the owner or management company has had any code violations in the past. I just don't want this to happen to anyone else out there. Moving sucks bad enough, with out having to do it again a couple months latter.

OH! BTW If you are in such a situation, more than likely your lease is Null & Void, (it will depend on your sitiuation) but you can not take my word on that, I am not a lawyer. But you can get free advice from a group called CES.