Overview
- The government‑commissioned evaluation released in late May found rent caps produced modest cuts of about 2–5 percent, saving tenants roughly €500 a year in regional cities and up to €800 in Paris.
- Researchers reported a decline in long‑term rental supply and fewer rental listings in capped areas, with many owners switching to furnished lets or platforms such as Airbnb to avoid limits.
- The study says the policy lowers taxable rental income and reduces state revenues while imperfect targeting means wealthier tenants benefit alongside those in need, with about 30 percent of beneficiaries in Paris among the top income fifth.
- Political pressure has intensified: a national petition calling to keep the experiment has gathered over 33,000 signatures and the housing minister has launched a consultation with local officials as a renewal decision looms.
- Experts and the report stress that price caps act on rents but do not address the underlying shortage of housing stock or construction, so lawmakers must weigh short‑term tenant relief against longer‑term market distortions.