Kristina Steele-Friske

A selfie of Kristina wearing a black sweatshirt with an office desk in the background

My name is Kristina Steele Friske, and until recently I lived in Independence Woods in Clarkston with my husband and our two teenagers. We loved the quiet community, associating with our neighbors, and having all the kids come to our house to play. The problem was the owners, Kingsley Management.

My now ex-husband has a disability, and I am dealing with brain tumors. We wanted to have our home paid for so if something happened to me, he could support the family on his disability income. We were on a rent-to-own contract for over five years. They promised us that part of our rent was going towards a down payment on the house, but after five years they told me that none of the $25,000 I’ve paid counts. 

And when I was going to be late on the rent because of emergency brain surgery, Kingsley said they would fine us and then file for eviction. I had to go back to work three days after brain surgery (against doctors’ advice) just to keep Kingsley from taking our home.

Meanwhile we were renters who have to do all of the repairs and maintenance like owners. When our furnace went out in the middle of winter, the manager never got back to us about fixing it. We had to replace it ourselves. We sank over $10,000 into that house. 

But they still raised the rent, $40 in January, another $120 in August. It never stopped. In the end the stress of it caused a break in our marriage and I had to give up on the dream of this home and move away. We need change. We need protections.