Letters: STR owner says city pulling rug out on owners

Letters: STR owner says city pulling rug out on owners
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I am writing to express my outrage at the city’s handling of the residential short-term rental situation.

I have been an Airbnb superhost for eight years and rely on the Airbnb income I generate from renting out the first-floor apartment in my Victorian townhouse. New Orleans is trying to change the rules in the middle of the game, pulling the rug out from many.

The city is now proposing a lottery system to draw the name of one lucky winner per square block. If there is a B&B on the square, the B&B automatically wins the lottery and existing hosts won’t have a chance. Why is their business more legitimate than mine?

I believe B&Bs should be in a separate category from Residential STRs. The city has said there will be an appeal process, but a consultant suggested an appeal may take up to six months. What am I supposed to do in the meantime?

I understand that affordable housing is at the heart of the issue, but if my Airbnb is taken from me, my apartment will not become an affordable housing option. Ever.

I will have to charge a higher-than-normal rent to try to make up for the loss of income from my STR. It should not be the burden of a homeowner to provide affordable housing for the city.

People like me who have played by the rules, gotten licensed, paid the steep fees and taken our job seriously should not be penalized. I don’t believe the city should be able to tell me or anyone else what they can do with extra space in their own homes.

Many of us rely on the income from our STRs to survive. If we lose this income many will lose their homes.

LISA ORWIG

New Orleans

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About Mary Weyand 15919 Articles
Mary founded Scoop Tour with an aim to bring relevant and unaltered news to the general public with a specific view point for each story catered by the team. She is a proficient journalist who holds a reputable portfolio with proficiency in content analysis and research. With ample knowledge about the Automobile industry, she also contributes her knowledge for the Automobile section of the website.

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