A significant drop in compliance with rent control laws has been described as "unprecedented" in Paris, where nearly half of landlords are exceeding legal rent limits. According to the Housing Foundation, a nonprofit organization that monitors housing conditions, nearly 40% of rental listings in cities with rent control exceed legal limits. In France as a whole, 37% of analyzed rental listings have prices above the legally allowed ceiling. This is an increase of five percentage points compared to 2025 and nine points compared to 2024. The Foundation's sixth annual report, based on over 10,000 rental listings published between August 2025 and August 2026, highlights that rent control, a policy supported by tenants and in place in nearly 70 communes, is being applied inconsistently across regions. The disparity is growing, especially in Paris, where the increase in non-compliant landlords has reached 31% to 46% over the past year, a development the Foundation calls "unprecedented." The Housing Foundation attributes this decline to a shrinking rental market in Paris, driven by higher interest rates and an increase in vacant or second homes. Some landlords may have felt emboldened to ignore rent caps during a period of uncertainty, especially after the government announced plans to end rent control in November unless a new law is passed. The Foundation also criticizes the misuse of a "rent supplement," a provision that allows landlords to charge extra for specific services, which some are using to bypass legal limits. Despite the city's claims of being ready to penalize non-compliant landlords, the situation remains concerning. Outside of Paris, similar trends are visible in the surrounding suburbs, such as Est Ensemble, where 36% of proposed rents exceed legal limits, and Plaine-Commune, where the rate is as high as 61%. However, in other regional cities like Montpellier, Bordeaux, Lille, and Lyon-Villeurbanne, the situation is improving. The problem is most severe in furnished rentals and for the smallest apartment sizes. Although more landlords are breaking the rules, the average amount of the overcharge has decreased, from 191 euros to 159 euros. Additionally, landlords with the least energy-efficient homes—classified as "G" in the national rating system—tend to have the highest rates of rent overruns, at 36%. Christophe Robert, the general delegate of the Housing Foundation, emphasized that while ensuring the continuation of rent control is crucial, it is equally important to enforce its application. The government has scheduled a Senate debate on the future of the policy in October, but no law has yet been passed to extend it beyond November. This uncertainty has created a challenging environment for tenants and housing advocates, who are calling for stronger enforcement and clearer regulations to protect renters from rising costs.