Opinions on Coach Houses?

[Nicholas Bailey]

In Chicago it's common for multi-family buildings to have a coach house behind the main building, which 120 years ago was legitimately for storing your horses and carriage, but now has been converted to an additional unit (sometimes very nice).

I worry that this basically brings me twice the expenses/maintenance. Two roofs, two heating/cooling systems, etc, with only one additional unit's rent to cover the expense. I'm curious if anyone here has experience owning/managing a property with a coach house, and what it did for your expenses.

[Mark Ainley]

@Nicholas Bailey  The issue I have ran into and hear about is the city comes down harder on coach houses for compliance.  Similar to how they come down on garden apartments even when they are legal.  We did the rehabs right so it didn't effect our maintenance in an adverse way.  We always encourage tenants with cats on these coach house units with the rat and mice issues the garbage brings.  I know sounds funny!