The short answer: when you move house, you can either transfer your current broadband contract to your new address or end it and start fresh with a new provider. Most providers will let you transfer, but the deal terms may change. Moving is one of the best times to shop around, as new customer deals are almost always better than what existing customers are offered on a like-for-like basis.
What happens to your current contract when you move
Your broadband contract is tied to your current address, not to you as a customer. When you move, you have three main options.
Option 1: transfer with the same provider
Most major providers allow you to move your service to a new address. You contact them, give your new address and moving date, and they arrange the transfer. The key points to check before agreeing:
- Whether the same speed tier is available at the new address.
- Whether the monthly price stays the same or changes.
- Whether the transfer resets your contract to a new 18 or 24-month term.
- Whether there is an installation or reconnection fee.
Some providers transfer the service smoothly with no change to terms. Others treat a move as effectively a new contract, resetting the term length and sometimes adjusting the price. Ask clearly before agreeing to the transfer.
Option 2: end the contract and start fresh
If you are near the end of your contract term, or if the provider cannot serve your new address, this is often the cleanest option. You give notice, cancel the service at the old address, and sign up for the best available deal at the new address as a new customer.
New customer deals are typically the most competitive available. Moving house is one of the few times you get to start fresh as a new customer with a new provider, which makes it worth shopping around.
Option 3: exit the contract early
If your provider cannot supply your new address at all, most will let you exit the contract without penalty. Get this confirmed in writing before the move. If your provider can technically serve the new address but at significantly worse speeds, you may also have grounds to negotiate an early exit.
If you simply want to leave for a better deal and the provider can serve the new address, you will normally owe an early termination charge calculated on the remaining months of your contract.
Contact your provider at least two to four weeks before your moving date. Leaving it until the week of the move limits your options and risks a gap in service. Some full fibre installations require an engineer visit that needs to be booked in advance.
What to check at your new address
Before committing to any deal, check what broadband types are available at your new postcode. The options can be very different from your current address. A property that previously had only FTTC may now have full fibre available, or vice versa.
Key things to check:
- Which connection types are available (ADSL, FTTC, FTTP, cable, 4G/5G).
- Which providers cover that specific address.
- Whether full fibre has been or is being rolled out in the area.
- Whether the property already has an existing Openreach line or Virgin Media infrastructure installed.
Use our postcode checker to see availability at your new address before making any decisions.
New address with no existing phone line
New builds and some recently converted properties may not have an existing phone line or broadband infrastructure. In this case:
- Full fibre providers can usually install a new connection, but an engineer visit is required. This is often free but may take one to two weeks to arrange.
- 4G or 5G home broadband requires no installation at all. A router arrives in the post and is ready to use immediately. This makes it a practical bridge if you need connectivity from day one and cannot wait for a fixed-line installation.
- Openreach will install a new phone line if needed, though this may involve a one-off charge depending on the provider you use.
Rented properties
If you are renting, check with your landlord before arranging any new installations. For most broadband connections, no physical changes to the property are needed. A standard Openreach connection uses the existing master socket, and 4G/5G home broadband needs nothing installed at all. Full fibre installation may require drilling a small hole for the fibre cable entry point, for which you should get landlord permission first.
Tenants have the legal right under the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 to request a connection from a provider, and landlords cannot unreasonably withhold consent. However, for a smooth experience, it is simpler to get agreement upfront.
Timing your switch around the move
The ideal sequence is:
- Check availability at the new address several weeks before the move.
- Contact your current provider to confirm what happens to your contract and whether there will be any charges.
- If switching to a new provider, sign up around two to three weeks before the move date, specifying the date you want the service to start.
- If keeping the same provider and transferring, confirm the transfer date aligns with your move date to avoid a gap.
- If a gap is unavoidable, a 4G/5G router with a monthly SIM can bridge the period.
When you sign up with a new provider, you have a 14-day cooling-off period under consumer contract law. If the service at the new address turns out to be much worse than expected and you are within that window, you can cancel without penalty.
Moving abroad temporarily
If you are moving abroad for a period and wish to cancel UK broadband, contact your provider and give notice in line with your contract. If you are within a fixed term, standard early termination charges apply unless the provider has a specific policy for overseas relocation. Some providers offer a pause or suspension option for longer absences, but this is not universal.
What you do not need
- You do not need to keep your old provider simply because you have an existing contract. If they cannot provide a service at the new address, you can exit without penalty. If the terms change materially on transfer, you have grounds to negotiate.
- You do not need to arrange a BT engineer visit to get an Openreach line. Most standard broadband activations at properties that already have a working Openreach line are completed remotely without a visit.
- You do not need broadband from day one if temporary coverage will do. A 4G/5G router SIM on a monthly plan is a practical short-term fix while you wait for a fixed-line installation, particularly for new builds.
- You do not need to rush the decision. Using the move as an opportunity to properly compare deals across all available providers is worth the time. New customer pricing is significantly better than what you would be offered mid-contract.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my broadband with me when I move house?
Usually yes, if your current provider covers your new address. Contact them with your new address and moving date. They will tell you whether they can transfer the service and on what terms. Be aware that the contract may restart, the price may change, and the speed tier available may differ. Compare the offered terms against new customer deals at the new address before agreeing to a transfer.
Will I have to pay an early termination fee when I move?
If your provider cannot supply your new address at all, most will waive the early termination fee. If they can supply it and you choose to switch to a different provider anyway, the standard early termination charge applies based on the remaining months of your contract. If you are near the end of your term, it may be worth waiting until it expires before switching.
How long does it take to set up broadband at a new address?
For a property that already has an active Openreach line, many providers can activate a connection in one to two weeks with no engineer visit required. For properties requiring a new line installation or full fibre for the first time, an engineer visit is needed and can take two to four weeks to arrange. 4G and 5G home broadband can be set up the same day the router arrives.
What if my new address only has ADSL available?
ADSL coverage at this stage of the UK rollout is typically found in areas where full fibre has not yet reached and FTTC cabinet upgrades have not been installed. Before concluding only ADSL is available, check specifically for full fibre providers beyond Openreach. Alternative network operators such as CityFibre, Hyperoptic, Gigaclear, and others have extended coverage significantly in many areas. 4G or 5G home broadband is also a viable option that does not depend on the fixed-line infrastructure at the address.
Can my landlord stop me from getting broadband installed?
Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a tenant's request for a broadband connection. The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 gives tenants the right to request connection from a network operator. For standard connections that do not require structural changes to the property, refusal would be difficult to justify. Full fibre installations that require a cable entry point may require prior consent, but this should be straightforward to obtain in most cases.
My new house has no phone line at all. How do I get broadband?
You have two practical options. First, contact a full fibre provider to arrange a new installation. This is usually free and requires an engineer visit to bring a fibre cable into the property. The wait time is typically two to four weeks. Second, use 4G or 5G home broadband as an immediate solution while you arrange the fixed-line connection. A router arrives by post and is ready to use straight away, with no engineer visit or installation needed. Most 4G and 5G home broadband plans are available month to month, so you can cancel once your fixed-line service is active.