How does the implementation of price controls affect consumer surplus in a market where demand is highly elastic?

Price controls, which are government-imposed limits on how high or low a price can be for a good or service, can significantly impact consumer surplus, especially in a market where demand is highly elastic. When demand is highly elastic, consumers are very responsive to price changes; a small increase in price can lead to a large drop in the quantity demanded. If a price ceiling is set below the market equilibrium price, it makes the good cheaper, allowing consumers to buy more at that lower price, which initially increases consumer surplus. However, this can also lead to shortages, as producers may not want to supply enough of the product at the lower price, ultimately reducing the availability of the good. For example, if a government sets a price ceiling on rental apartments, more people may want to rent because the price is low, but if landlords decide to stop renting or maintain their properties poorly due to lower profits, there may be fewer apartments available, harming consumers in the long run.