Should Suburban Homeowner Pay Taxes on Luxury Treehouse?

Photo credit: AirBNB.com

Subscribe to Patch Alerts and Our Daily Email Newsletter

-------------------------

The question over whether a Schaumburg man should have to pay property taxes on his 112-square-foot luxury treehouse has gotten plenty of media attention in recent days.

The unique situation is currently being reviewed by Schaumburg Township Assessor John Lawson to determine if the tree house on Winchester Lane, which includes a full-size bed, kitchenette and a RV-style toilet in a tent on the deck, should be considered a second residence, the Daily Herald reports.

Homeowner Dan Alexander is currently renting the treehouse out on the AIrBNB website for $195 a night. Listed as a ”Romantic Garden Treehouse,” the accommodations also include a fireplace, cable television and WiFi access, and a fireman’s pole. The treehouse overlooks a waterfall and Koi pond and also has access to a hot tub on the property, according to the listing.

The listing also notes that under zoning laws, the village of Schaumburg allows Alexander to rent out a room in his house but then let his guests instead use the treehouse exclusively.

The question over whether Alexander should be paying a higher tax bill for the treehouse was unofficially brought to Lawson’s attention by a local official, according to the Daily Herald.

So, what do you think? Should the owner of a luxury treehouse have to pay taxes on the property?

» Click here to learn about Patch’s new comment system and how you can create a Disqus commenter account