I think this revolves around how deeply you want to be involved in the country. Recently we had our address changed and that DID involve in notifying a lot of people - necessary and optional. You almost certainly will be required to notify the services water, electricity, bank if you want a bank card, doctor if you need medical attention, the Maire, I believe has a responsibility for the addresses of residents (except holiday ones? Unless you wish to live in a cash only society?
Optional ones will be amazon and any others you use online for stuff to be delivered as not many use the French postal service.
Best to think through all those you might need for anything wherever they are based and as Stella noted you must have your name on the letter box or they could all have a reason not to deliver!
I suggest making your presence known to the Mairie. Our town has a welcoming reception (even during these strange times!) for new residents. Itâs a lovely opportunity to a) get to know whoâs who within the council, and 2) share a glass of wine with your new neighbours and the mayor.
You never know when it could well come in handy one day to have at least already met your mayor.
There is a difference between âmust tellâ - which is nobody - and could be a good idea to tell for your daily life. Some things have to be done in order as canât register a mĂ©decin traitant until you get into the health system. And other things like amazon would be totally meaningless for authorities as provide no real proof.
I have a very strong intuition that the former Maire in our commune declined to meet new residents for the friendly verre dâamitiĂ© for the simple reason that some residents were under the illusion that they thereafter âhad the Maireâs earâ (in a nudge-nudge way), and he was sick and tired of it of it after 30 years in office.
He was a very self-effacing man but a hugely successful and enterprising public servant. In my very rare formal dealings with him he was a model of attentiveness and courtesy, and is much missed since his recent retirement.
Yes, that is an interesting thread. Thanks
Stella - thatâs a great suggestion about the letterbox - wouldnât have thought about it
Norman - our aim is to get involved in the country and embrace it
Gareth - yep we definitely will be trying to visit our Mairie
Thanks all for sharing your experiences.
Yogesh
I read on the Gov website that we have until next June to apply!
Me and hubby canât make the application before December so I looked it up!
Where in France are you?
Hi Lesley⊠applying before next yearâs deadline is fine⊠so long as the necessary residency proof/papertrail starts in France before 31st December 2020âŠ
Wouldnât want folk to think they can let the important steps wait until next year⊠
It definitely states that you do not have to apply before the 31st December, by doing so if it more likely that you will be able to get into the health system easier. We are actually going down the route that Judy my hubby will apply and then I can get automatic residency based on hi.
I have agreed with you⊠everyone can wait until next year⊠to apply⊠if they wish to.
but it might be an awful mistake for folk to think they can wait until next year to start getting their affairs in order⊠This is the point I am trying to make 
Exactly, Stella, people must be resident here before the end of this year to qualify
Seconded. And to re-emphasis that you MUST be resident by 31st December this year and MUST have applied for your carte de séjour by 30th June 2021.
So I hope what you wrote does ât mean you think you can apply next July.
I agree, itâs going to be a bit of a stampede to get the residency done for sure.
We are second home owners, but we have to pay habitation & Fronceire because our house is furnished. We are trying to find out if that will give us any enhancement of getting residency without going through proof of financial status and paying for private medical cover.
err - like cake and eat it? 
Lesley, second home owners have to pay taxe fonciĂšre regardless and taxe dâhabitation too as second homes are considered a luxury And unfortunately having a second home but not being resident doesnât give you any rights 
France is bending over backwards to make things easy for Brits post-brexit, but being resident (yes actually living here and having proof of that) before the end of the transition period (6 weeks time!) is a non-flexible condition so get over here before then!
If that means you canât get over and be living here (i.e. resident) by the end of December then youâll miss the chance of applying under the current conditions and will have to apply as third country nationals so I repeat my advice, get over here before the end of the year! 
Yes, why not? We pay our French taxes so why canât we take advantage of the rules?
Well, best of luck thenâŠ
