In the weeks leading up to the potential end of a local rent control policy, Grégory Doucet, the mayor of Lyon, visited Lyon 2 University on Monday, October 5, alongside green deputy Boris Tavernier, to advocate for the policy’s continuation. The rent control, which has been tested in Lyon and Villeurbanne since 2022, is set to end its trial period in November 2026. Both officials are pushing to delay that deadline. In the National Assembly, Tavernier is supporting an extension until 2028, arguing that ending the policy could raise residents' monthly rent by 100 euros. He also claims that the rent control helps tenants save an average of 500 euros annually. The future of the policy also hinges on the Lyon Metropolis, which is governed by LR (Les Républicains) president Véronique Sarselli, elected in March 2026. During her campaign, she promised to remove Lyon and Villeurbanne from the rent control program, arguing it was hindering the rental market. Grégory Doucet disagrees and wants the cities to have the authority to decide their own policies. "Today, it is the Metropolis that decides on behalf of the cities. It is lunar! We want to regain this prerogative," he said. Cédric Van Styvendael, the PS (Socialist) mayor of Villeurbanne, also supports keeping the policy in place. Grégory Doucet acknowledges some limitations of the system, such as challenges with rent supplements and addressing irregularities in the market. However, he believes continuing the policy is better than ending it. Speaking to students at the university, he emphasized that the policy works and warned of the difficulties young people face in finding affordable housing. Boris Tavernier shares concerns about the policy potentially being phased out abruptly. Both officials are continuing their efforts to extend the rent control policy, aiming to secure its future beyond the current trial period. They are working to ensure that the policy remains in place, arguing it provides tangible benefits to residents and helps maintain affordability in the housing market.