Somewhat tangential, but I feel like writing it. I left the UK and moved to Portugal shortly after the Brexit vote. I brought a 6 hectare farm for mid-5-figures (for too big for one person really).

The process here was as follows:

1 - Get a 'this person really lives here' document from your local village council office (easy, done in a day)

2 - Get a tax number (easy, but may be worth taking an accountant with you, done on the spot)

3 - Go to your local city, show both documents, pay €16, they give you your 5-year residency on the spot.

Of course this is harder now the UK has actually left the EU, but still perfectly do-able as I understand it.

I also think this can be a tricker process in the big cities. Things are generally more chill in the rural area where I am. I.e. the local official had seen my face around the village and was like 'heh, you obviously live here, whatever', and didn't need to see any title deeds or rental contracts.