Moving House And Broadband

Moving house is considered to be one of the most stressful life events you can experience.

It comes with a long checklist of jobs to tackle, so let us help you tick one off. Arranging broadband service at your new address can be sorted in just a few clicks. This is especially important if you depend on the internet for work and want it ready to go as soon as possible after you move in.

Broadband transfers usually take a minimum of 14 days to organise. Some providers say they can work more quickly to get you connected, while others need more notice than this.

Whatever the case, it’s a good idea to plan ahead. The earlier you let your provider know about your move, the easier it will be to organise your installation when you need it.

Or you might want to compare broadband deals and switch to a different provider at your new home. This will still need to be sorted prior to your move, though.

What to do with broadband when moving house

First, you need to decide if you want to stay with your current provider or switch.

Taking your broadband service with you when you move home

If you’re satisfied with your current internet provider’s service and package and it operates in the area you’re moving to, you can request to transfer your service to your new home.

You might even be able to negotiate an upgrade to your current package by contacting your provider. This could be useful if you’re moving to a bigger house or you have a growing family.

Cancelling your broadband and switching to a new provider when moving house

Alternatively, you have the option to cancel your current broadband deal and transfer to a different provider at your new address. If you're out of contract, you can cancel without charge.

If you’re still in contract, you’ll usually have to pay an early exit fee. This can be very costly, so it could be worth transferring your current deal over and waiting until your contract ends before switching.

In some cases, a home move means you have access to cheaper deals or faster speeds. So it’s well worth checking what’s available at your new address.

Top tips for a smooth broadband switch

Here’s our top tips to make sure your broadband switch goes without a hitch:

• Compare broadband deals available at your new address. This can help you decide whether you want to switch or stay with your current provider
• Contact your provider early to let them know you’re moving house and that you want to transfer your broadband account to a new address
• If you’re switching broadband providers, you might need to arrange for an engineer to visit your new address to set up your internet. Choose a date close to your moving day, so you aren’t left without broadband for long
• Check for cancellation charges on your current broadband deal if you’re still in contract
• Bear in mind that some providers require at least a couple of weeks’ notice to get you connected. It can sometimes be longer, especially if you need new lines installed and an engineer has to be booked in

Is it easy to switch broadband providers?

Yes, it’s easier than ever to switch broadband providers with One Touch Switch. This process is for wired broadband connections only, so it doesn’t apply to mobile broadband options.

All you need to do is:

• Compare broadband deals for your new address
• Take a look at the speeds available, contract length, connection types and cost before choosing the right option for you
• Enter your information with your chosen provider and select a start date to coincide with your house move. You might also need to arrange an engineer’s visit

Your new provider will then contact your old one to end your contract and arrange the switch over. You might still need to pay an exit fee if you’re in the contract’s minimum term.

What else should I consider when transferring or switching broadband

It’s important to think about what speeds you’ll need at your new address. If it doesn’t already have full fibre installed, you’ll have to arrange for an engineer to come out and install it. It’s a good idea to book the fibre installation close to your moving date. Be aware that there might be quite a wait for an engineer callout slot, so it’s best to get it sorted as soon as possible.

If you’re thinking about switching broadband providers when you move, make sure you consider reviews. This is a good way to check your chosen new provider is reliable and handles any complaints quickly and efficiently. Look at sites like TrustPilot for customer reviews. You could even ask your new neighbours if they’re satisfied with their broadband provider or look for recommendations in a local community group on social media.

It might be worth transferring your current internet plan to your new home if the cancellation charges would be more than any savings you would make by switching. Weigh up the costs to see if it’s worth it.

When to order broadband for your new house

Planning ahead is key when it comes to ordering broadband for your new home. Internet providers typically need a notice period of at least a few weeks to transfer your service. This could sometimes be as long as four weeks or more.

This time allows them to verify important details at your new address, such as checking if the phone line works with your chosen plan and determining whether or not an engineer visit is necessary to set up your connection.

Here’s a guide to the sort of notice some providers ask for:

• Sky broadband - Two to four weeks
• BT broadband - At least two weeks
• Virgin Media - Three days to two weeks
• Vodafone broadband - At least 30 days
• NOW broadband - At least two weeks
• EE broadband - At least three weeks

Is next day broadband installation possible?

Normally, it takes about two weeks to get connected after you sign up to a cable or fibre broadband service.

If you want next day broadband installation, you might need to get 4G or 5G mobile home broadband to tide you over.

You can get mobile broadband from suppliers like Three and O2. You don’t need a landline installed because the routers use their mobile networks. When you subscribe to a package, you’ll be sent a wireless broadband hub, with next day delivery if you pay for it. You simply plug it into a power source and follow the setup instructions to get started.

How to get internet in my new-build home?

If your home is yet to be built, then you can check with your developer if any services have been pre-installed in the area, such as full fibre broadband options.

The postcode of your house might not be registered if the estate is brand new, which means that you won’t be able to check which broadband deals are available for your home. You can use a nearby postcode to see what you can expect in your area once your address is live.

If the estate that your new build home is located on is more established, you can just enter your postcode above to find out what providers and deals you can choose from.

Can you transfer broadband to another address?

Yes, if you are satisfied with your current provider, you should be able to transfer the service to your new home.

You’ll need to confirm it operates at your new address and what speeds are available in your new area before making a final decision. You can usually do a postcode check online on your provider’s website.

To request a transfer, just inform your provider about when to disconnect your old service and when you’d like your broadband activated at your new address.

If you choose to keep your existing package and contract, you can often take your existing broadband equipment, like your router, with you and use it in your new house. This can help avoid any delays in getting your broadband activated.

You might be given the option to upgrade your package with the provider. For this, you might have to start a new contract, which will tie you in for a set period.

The main thing to remember is that you need to let your provider know your moving date well in advance. It’ll then arrange to disconnect your current internet on the date requested and set up supply for the new house.

In most cases, there’s no charge for a home move, unless a new line needs to be installed.

Which broadband has the fastest installation?

It really depends on the circumstances. If you’ve given your provider plenty of notice and there’s already a fixed line connection installed at your new address, it might be possible to self-install your router on activation day. So you should be up and running quickly.

If your home needs a new line installed by an engineer, you’ll likely have a longer wait on your hands. This could be the case if you’ve opted for full fibre broadband and your new home currently uses telephone lines for an internet connection.

The key is to give your provider plenty of notice about your move and what date you need to be connected in your new property. At least four weeks is ideal.

Can I cancel my internet contract and switch broadband providers if I move?

Yes, you can. In fact, moving home could be the perfect opportunity to investigate if you could get cheaper broadband, better service or faster speeds with a different provider.

You need to check which providers operate at your new address, then browse the packages available. They often offer attractive deals for new customers that you could benefit from.

It’s important to know that, if you cancel with your provider before the end of your minimum contract period, you’ll usually have to pay an early exit fee. This could mean that you have to pay for the remaining months left on your contract.

Keep an eye open for providers that offer to contribute towards paying off any exit fees from your current provider when you switch to them.

If you do decide to switch, you should contact the provider you want to switch to. You’ll need to provide them with your address and the name of your current provider and it will organise the switch to go ahead on the date you choose.

The new One Touch Switch process means you don’t need to contact your current provider to cancel your contract. The new provider does it all for you. You’ll automatically be informed if you have to pay any early exit fee.

Short-term internet solutions

If you haven’t managed to get it sorted before you move or there are any hiccups and delays in getting broadband installed in your new home, there are a few temporary fixes you can consider:

• Use your smartphone as a hotspot: Use your phone’s internet connection to connect other devices to the internet. The is sometimes referred to as tethering and uses up the mobile data on your phone plan
• Buy a dongle This USB device with a SIM card plugs into your laptop and you can connect to the internet via 4G or 5G when you buy data or a data plan
• 4G and 5G routers: You can buy, or hire, a home internet router with a SIM card that uses 4G or 5G to create a WiFi network, without the need for a landline. You simply plug it in and pay for data used
• Public Wi–Fi: Cafes and libraries sometimes offer free public Wi–Fi. Be aware that the network is not secure, so avoid signing into accounts with passwords

In some cases, if there’s a delay to getting connected, your provider will send out a temporary solution. For example, when BT knows your services will be delayed for more than two days, it’ll send out an EE 4G mini-hub with unlimited data.

What is a good download and upload speed?

When you’re comparing broadband deals, one of the most important things to consider is what broadband speed is right for you.

The median download speed for households in the UK is 75 megabits per second (Mbps) currently and the median upload speed is 21 Mbps, according to Fair Internet Report.

Download speed measures how much data can be transferred to your device over a certain period of time. The higher the download speed, the more smooth and seamless your internet connection will be.

Speeds over 30 Mbps are considered superfast and should be adequate for everyday use by individuals, couples and small families who use the internet for streaming and browsing. If you have a larger household with several members who like online gaming or watching films in 4K, you might want to look at higher speeds, potentially up to 100 Mbps or even higher.

Upload speed shows how fast data can be sent from your device to the internet. This is handy to know if you frequently livestream, video call, work in the cloud or upload large files (YouTube videos, for example). An upload speed of more than 5 Mbps is considered adequate for everyday typical broadband use. However, activities like online gaming will require a higher upload speed, so make sure you have the speed you need.

You can find out how fast your current connection is with our broadband speed checker.

FAQs

What should I do with my old routers?

If you don’t want to keep your old router, you can usually recycle it by returning it to your internet service provider. Or you should be able to dispose of it at your local recycling centre.

You could even keep your old router and use it to extend your Wi-Fi signal, although this will depend on the model you have and if the internal software can be changed.

Will I have access to fibre at my new house?

To find out if you have access to fibre broadband at your home, just enter your address in our postcode checker at the top of the page.

You’ll be shown all the deals available to you, including any fibre broadband options.

If you live in a more rural location, you might want to consider mobile or satellite broadband instead, as fibre broadband might not be an option.

When should I tell my provider that I am moving?

If you want to stay with the same broadband provider when you move, check its website for the required notice period. It will differ depending on which company you’re with.

Switching broadband providers when you move means that you won’t have to give notice. Just arrange for your new deal to start on, or around, the date you move into your new home. Find out whether an engineer will be needed to set it up for you, there might be a waitlist.

Either way, you’ll want to investigate your options well before your move date so you’re not left without the internet.

Do I need an engineer to install broadband in a new house?

It will depend on the broadband infrastructure at your new home and your chosen internet package.

If you want lightning fast full fibre broadband and your new home still uses old copper phone lines to deliver the internet, you’ll need to arrange with your provider for an engineer to come out and install the required cables.

You can check with the broadband provider whether you’ll need an engineer visit. You’ll want to factor this in when choosing your broadband switchover date.