Calling all friends...........

[candida]

Hey gang, its' been awhile since I've posted and I need a little clarity please.
We've had a landlord/tenant dispute here. When we moved into this apartment 8 months ago, we told the landlord that the toilet needed fixing cause it ran all the time and wouldn't flush right. They said they would fix it but they never, never did until yesterday. They replaced the components in the back of the tank and put on a new handle. The problem is this: there are 3 floors in our building, top, middle and basement. We live on the top floor. Well, the toilet did overflow and
wet the carpet; the landlord claims that we ruined the apartment below us(the 2nd floor and the basement apartment, the 1st floor)with water damage. Therefore , he will let us know if he is going to put us out or if we have to pay any damage(we paid a security deposit and he has owners' insurance) plus we think he is not a US citizen so he doesn't have to pay taxes on his building, he can write it off. So, I asked I Ching what will be the outcome tomorrow when the landlord comes. It was kind of surprizing to me that the answer was "head on" because often the answers are not so clear. I got hex 18 Work on what has spoiled, lines 1 and 6-----relating hex 11 Peace. Line 6 of hex 18 speaks of one who prefers to do his own thing. Is this speaking of the landlord? maybe because he doesn't pay taxes?
We're really worried because the landlord is bringing in his own maintenance man to assess the problem instead of getting an independent plumber. The landlord admitted to us that this was an ongoing problem. However, why isn't our floor wet, why no water marks? Yes, we admitt the toilet overflowed, but how could a toilet leak into 3 apartments? If the handyman isn't an honest man, he might lean on the side of his boss. The legal aide society in our town said that we shouldn't pay rent for the this month of March unless the landlord puts in writing that we can stay here if he doesn't blame us. I remember when Val was having a lot of trouble in landlord/tenant problems, I hope she can sympathise with us.

[candid]

Candida,

Tough call. But I'd say the issue is one of 'thinking outside the box,' as indicated by line 6. The decay has been in existence before you even entered the apartment, therefore the question of reform falls upon the landlord. Also, I'd further a guess that the corruption exists throughout all three floors and not just yours. I would not admit to any liability in this because that can release the landlord of obligation. Lastly, I'd approach this with an eye toward a peaceful resolution rather than as any sort of conflict. Never stare a strange dog in the eyes, it makes them nervous, suspicious, defensive and potentially dangerous, IE: drawing attention to or consideration of the landlord?s citizenship and taxable status. It is enough to be released from blame and have a secure home, preferably one with a correctly functioning toilet system.

C

[cheiron]

However a brief mention that you want to try to avoid calling on your legal indemnity (said with a conciliatory smile) never does any harm whether you have it nor not ;)

Do you have that in the US - An insurance policy which gives you free representation in legal diputes?

Hope it goes well.

--Kevin

[candida]

Hey there Candid and Cheiron, some relief, at least from you guys and I appreciate that.
When you said Candid, "Never stare a strange dog in the eye, it makes them nervous, supscious, etc." I thank you for the insight because it is so true; I am not usually a hostile person but if I feel that my family is being threatened in any way, then the bulldog comes out in me and the other person has to watch out for strange dogs. Therefore, knowing this, I will try to "temper" my temper, anyhow my husband told me not to get antagonistic and his word is rule!
Kevin......I got a chuckle out of your advice for me; yes we have a legal aide society (pro bono)that supposedly gives free legal advice but in the state of PA, it doesn't hold much water. They really don't accomplish much.

[candida]

right after I posted the above messages, I asked
Ching for the daily answer to this landlord/tenant dispute, what will occur and received hex 29 2nd and 3rd, relating hex 39 no lines. Wow, 29 speaks of the water flowing on repeatedly (how appropriate) and 39 speaks of obstruction. Time will only tell just what exactly the obstruction is. Perhaps something stuck in his water pipes? maybe kicking us out?
I do agree with Candid not to claim this as our fault because we too believe that the damage has been here before we moved in and the landlord is trying to find a patsy.

[candid]

Hi Candida,

39 has played out in my life to mean: reverse your thinking/attitude. The picture in my mind is that of a stream that runs into a tree fallen across the water. Before the water can continue on downstream, it must first deepen itself before continuing on along the lines of least resistance around and over the obstruction.

C

[candida]

Yes, maybe so, Candid, but couldn't hex 29 be litterally speaking about a water leak that flows on and on? Haven't other posters found when posting that some of their answers are litteral and not just about attitudes but something tangible?

[candid]

Candida, absolutely!

[jte]

Sorry to hear about your apartment, Candida. Don't have much advice for ya, except to say yes, you don't want to let your landlord make you a scapegoat, but you also don't want to become his enemy (at least not before plans to move out are well-established :-) ). If its any consolation, my roof started leaking during recent rains and our rent office threw a fit about it (they haven't said anything about us paying for the repairs though).

"Haven't other posters found when posting that some of their answers are litteral and not just about attitudes but something tangible? "

Oh yes. Here's a fun one - I asked if I should become an ethical vegetarian and got 44.4 (no fish in the tank, leads to misfortune). I'm 36, male, and about 20 lbs overweight. I eat salmon about twice a weak and not much other meat anyhow since my fiancee is a vegetarian. Salmon, you may know, has omega 3 fatty acids, that protect against heart disease...

I found this to be another instance of the Yi's sense of humor/making the best of the answers it has. Definitely not the standard 44 meaning, but quite applicable nonetheless. Gotta love it...

:-)

- Jeff

[candida]

Hi Jeff, I laughed and laughed at that one about no fish in the tank! So, yes I see that an answer can be litteral. Well, I threw again today asking the same Q about this landlord/tenant dispute,"What will be the outcome" and received hex 18 that I received twice in one week, lines 2 and 3 so I must take it litteraly, "work on what has spoiled" as the ceiling is definitely spoiled from the water.
Relating hex was 23 Splitting Apart and that sounds like the landlord may "put us out" but if he does, we will fight him in small claims court because we couldn't have ruined 3 floors because there is cement under each floor and there would have to have been a virtual flood and there wasn't.
candida