On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, real estate experts in Puebla voiced strong concerns over a new initiative aimed at regulating rental prices in the state. The proposal, introduced in late April by Morena local deputy Elisa Limón Balderrábano, seeks to limit rent increases to prevent families from being displaced due to rising housing costs.

However, Julio Javier Préstamo Abrego, president of the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) in Puebla, warned that such controls could backfire by discouraging investment in the local housing market. He highlighted that investors often take up to 20 years to recoup their investments through rental income, and restricting prices might reduce the availability of rental properties, worsening the existing housing deficit of 18 percent in the state.

Préstamo cited the example of San Francisco, USA, where rent control led to a 15 percent drop in housing supply. “Reducing 15 percent of the housing stock in a state like Puebla would drive rents even higher because less supply means higher prices,” he explained.

Arturo Sánchez, AMPI Puebla’s board advisor, added that the metropolitan area of Puebla currently has around 350,000 rental units, which is insufficient to meet the demand from approximately 60,000 students arriving annually. This shortage forces local residents out of the rental market. Sánchez emphasized that instead of controlling rent prices, authorities should focus on creating incentives to increase housing supply to support the state’s growth and development.

According to AMPI Puebla, the state ranks among the six with the most affordable rents in Mexico. The proposed rent control would most impact Puebla City and nearby municipalities such as San Pedro Cholula, San Andrés Cholula, and Cuautlancingo.

This debate highlights the complex balance between protecting tenants from rising costs and ensuring a healthy, sustainable housing market that attracts investment and expands supply—an issue that directly affects many residents, including students and working families navigating Puebla’s rental landscape.