French Mayors Advocate for Rent Control

Why this is here: Parisian renters save roughly 1,000 euros per year, on average, due to local rent control policies, according to a study by the Atelier parisien d’urbanisme.

Fifty French mayors are urging the government to continue rent control measures in nearly 70 cities. These local leaders point to positive results since 2015, when cities began experimenting with regulating rent increases. A recent Ipsos survey shows roughly 87% of French citizens support the policy, and many mayors who championed rent control won recent elections.

An APUR study found Parisian renters avoid about 1,000 euros in annual rent increases thanks to the controls. Similar benefits occurred in cities like Lille and Lyon, where rent increases slowed compared to areas without controls. The current law is set to expire in November 2026, and the government has not yet committed to extending it.

A bill to make rent control permanent passed the National Assembly in December 2025, but awaits consideration by the Senate. The mayors believe the law is essential for addressing housing affordability and protecting tenants from abusive rents, but its future remains uncertain.