IfNotNowWhen

Very new to this forum, but after many years of visiting France we have decided to give it a go and hope to move next year (from Kent), probably to Hesdin (but still considering options). Retirement visa, so not starting a business, converting a gite or anything like that. Apart from improving our rusty language skills (which we are determined to do), we would welcome some insights. Any views on Hesdin specifically or that part of France more generally that you'd like to share please? Our specs are still quite rose-tinted, but we're pretty realistic about moving, and have done our research in to costs, bureacracy and so on, so it's more the character of the place and any unexpected elements that would be useful - in fact the question is, what was the most unexpected thing YOU found on moving to France (and Hesdin specifically, if any of you are nearby, perhaps!). Thanks, Mark.

Ok, thanks for the replies, useful to know. cheers, mark

Hello, first post so please be gentle... we're researching a move for next year (long term retirement visa initially) to Pas de Calais or nearby, and checking out houses (in town, so on mains everything). With the diagnostic de performance énergétique (DPE), which I understand is provided by the seller and hopefully made available for our inspection before we get to compromis de vente stage, is there an obligation on the vendor to carry out improvements (or on us once we buy the house), or is it like UK's EPC which is for information/comparison only (unless you're a landlord). Same question with the audit énergétique - or is this a sub-part of the DPE? We're looking at older properties, so inevitably poorer energy scores. Thank you, Mark