NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – Airbnb, Vacation Rental by Owner, Home Away. The short-term rental issue in New Orleans is a heated debate and one that was examined during a roundtable meeting ahead of the July 4 holiday.

“We have to be more competitive, but yes, the 4th of July is definitely booked out,” says short-term rental owner Felicia Weathersby.

But perhaps what’s unusual at this roundtable is the fact that these short term rental community leaders are asking the city of New Orleans to regulate their properties.

“We want to have the upkeep in our neighborhoods in line with who you would want to be living next door to you,” says the president of the Alliance for Neighborhood Prosperity, Eric Bay.

Regardless, the opposition cites several examples of why short-term rentals are already a problem. They argue short-term rentals negatively impact the local housing community.

“I know that when the New Orleans Housing Alliance prepared their 10-year master plan for the city, it showed that the short-term rentals here are not yet affecting affordable housing in New Orleans,” says Bay.

The opposition also cites those bad apple renters, tourists who visit our city and are a nuisance in our neighborhoods.

“It’s just like it is in a hotel room, you have to shut it down after a certain time and be respectful of your neighbors,” says Weathersby.