Did this homeowner turn their house into a graveyard just for the tax exemption? Some people seem to think so.
There are many ways to save money as a homeowner, from tax exemptions to being more energy efficient, but potentially burying a family member in the place where you live is far beyond the realm of imagination for many people.
If you are going to do something so out of the ordinary and intimate, you might choose to be more careful about who you invite into your home.
But it seems this person is so oblivious (or unbothered) that they not only opened up their home to people, but to perfect strangers.
Why did this Airbnb have a grave on-site?
In a viral video with more than 1.1 million views, content creator Aimeé Martin (@aimeebmartin) shared the shocking thing she found in her Texas Airbnb.
As the viral Jet2 holiday sound plays (which has become synonymous with vacation memories from dreamy getaways to chaotic fails), Martin shows the nice pool that’s included in their Airbnb.
But as she moves, the pool goes further out of frame, and instead, you notice a big rock among the gravel. But it’s not a rock, not a traditional one anyway.
It’s a gravestone.
You know, the kind used at the cemetery to mark where a loved one is buried—yeah.
“When the Airbnb forgets to mention something,” Martin wrote.
“E.L. ‘Bill’ Rathburn, 1913-1967,” the tombstone reads.
“To be honest it was an amazing house! RIP Bill! Thankfully the kids didn’t notice,” Martin said in the caption.
Can you bury a person on your property?
In most states, yes, simply because so many don’t have laws prohibiting them, Trigard reported.
But if you’re going to do it, check with your local municipality, health department, and city clerk because it does require a special permit, and each state has its own zoning laws and requirements for aspects like embalming, refrigeration, and burial depths.
Ten states—Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, and New York—require that a licensed funeral director be part of the process.
Is burying a person on property tax evasion?
In some states, private burial grounds can be exempt from property taxes, News Nation reported.
Texas, California, and Illinois each have exceptions for burial grounds. In Texas, property used exclusively for “home burial” purposes can qualify for a tax exemption as long as the owner isn’t making a profit on it. This also applies to California, where a burial site with “six or more human bodies” can lose its exemption unless it’s used solely for burials.
In Illinois, there is a tax exemption for property used exclusively for non-profit cemetery purposes.
Viewers can’t believe what they saw
“Thats how they save money on property taxes,” a top comment read.
“Doesn’t mean he’s there, could be just the marker,” a person pointed out.
“Ah yes, the permanent resident,” another joked.
“Mine had a little girl’s grave from the 1800s,” a commenter shared.
@aimeebmartin To be honest it was an amazing house! RIP Bill! Thankfully the kids didn’t notice ? #airbnb #galveston #texas #rip ♬ Jet2 Advert – ✈️A7-BBH | MAN ??
The Mary Sue reached out to Martin for comment via Instagram and TikTok direct message and to Airbnb via email.
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