# Evaluating rent controls in a fully built out city

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2026-05-23

paris, housing, rent-controls, apartments, apur

---

Paris has residential rent controls. They were put in place on a test basis starting on July 1, 2019 and, broadly speaking, they limit what rents can be charged on a per-square-metre basis according to the neighbourhood, rental type (unfurnished or furnished), number of bedrooms, and the period of construction.

Since then, there have been various studies examining their effects. [Here's a recent one](https://www.apur.org/sites/default/files/2026-04/12p288_Encadrement_Loyers_Paris_2025.pdf) by Apur. In this report, the authors conclude that over the six-year period, the controls moderated rents by -5% compared to where they would have been had they been unfettered. Importantly, they also conclude that the rent control policies have had no meaningful impact on the city's rental supply.

However, it's important to point out that "rental supply" means the supply of rental homes in buildings already built. The report does not talk about new construction. And as I understand it, the rent controls are more flexible for new construction. There's also a _complément de loyer_ (rent supplement) that developers and landlords can charge for new builds that are energy efficient and offer exceptional comfort or amenities.

Regardless of the specifics, it's interesting to think about rent controls in a city like Paris. The central part of the region, Paris proper, is already built out and constructs very little new housing each year. By some [estimates](https://www.apur.org/fr/logement-hebergement/evolution-parc-logements/habiter-plus-habiter-mieux-quelques-chiffres-parc#:~:text=La%20construction%20à%20Paris,'équivalent%20de%200%2C6.), the net amount (factoring in existing units being demolished) is only something like 1,500 to 2,000 units annually. And if you consider new market-rate units, it's an even smaller number.

From a policy standpoint, this presumably means you're a lot less concerned about new housing supply — at least in the central neighbourhoods — and more concerned about the overall affordability of the existing supply.

* * *

_Cover photo by_ [_Salomé Watel_](https://unsplash.com/@samefaisrire?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) _on_ [_Unsplash_](https://unsplash.com/photos/white-concrete-buildings-under-white-clouds-during-daytime-pAsb9B4HTPI?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)

---

*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/evaluating-rent-controls-in-a-fully-built-out-city)*