Your provider serves the new address well
Check the available technology and speed, any move charge and whether accepting the transfer starts a fresh minimum term.
Moving home broadband planner
Sort the broadband before the boxes arrive
A house move is the point where a cheap transfer can turn into a new contract, an installation delay or an avoidable exit fee. Check the new address first, then decide whether taking the old provider or switching gives the better result.
Important: moving home is not simply an ordinary One Touch Switch between providers at one address. Treat the old-address cease and new-address activation as a move plan and confirm who is doing each part.
Start here
Should you transfer your current broadband or switch?
There is no automatic winner. The right answer depends on what is available at the new address, your contract position and how much downtime you can tolerate.
The new address has better networks
Moving can open access to FTTP, cable or an altnet that was unavailable at your old property. Compare the full package before recontracting.
Your current provider cannot serve the new home
Do not assume the remaining contract disappears. Ask for the exact early termination charge and any moving-home waiver policy in writing.
You cannot afford to be offline
Get the new installation date confirmed before ending the old connection. A short overlap or temporary mobile connection can be cheaper than lost work.
Six-step plan
How to move broadband without creating your own outage
Work in this order. The most common mistake is cancelling or recontracting before checking what the new address can actually receive.
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1
Around 4 weeks before
Check the exact new address
Use the LinkSpeed broadband availability checker, then confirm the precise house or flat with the provider before ordering. A postcode-level result does not guarantee that a particular flat, ONT or line is ready.
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2
3-4 weeks before
Check your current contract and home-move terms
Find the minimum-term end date, current monthly price and any exit fee. Ask what happens if you transfer the service, whether a new minimum term starts, whether the package changes and what happens if the provider cannot supply the new address.
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3
2-3 weeks before
Compare transfer versus switching
Compare total cost, download and upload speed, router, installation, contract length and future price changes. If you are already out of contract, the move is a good point to compare alternatives rather than automatically renewing.
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4
1-2 weeks before
Confirm the activation or engineer date
Do not rely on a sales estimate if connectivity matters for work or family use. Check whether the property needs an engineer, ONT, cable entry point or landlord/building access, and keep the promised date or order confirmation.
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5
Final week
Check everything tied to the old connection
Ask about router and TV equipment returns, provider email, digital voice or landline numbers, alarm/telecare devices, static IP addresses and any mobile or TV discounts tied to the broadband account.
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6
Move-in day
Test the new line before closing your fallback
Once live, run a wired speed test, then check ping, packet loss and Wi-Fi around the property. If you deliberately kept an overlap, end it only after the new service is stable.
Visual timeline
Moving-home broadband at a glance
This timeline condenses the six-step plan so you can see the safest order before you start changing anything on the old or new address.
Provider moving policies
UK broadband provider moving policies: notice, fees and contract risk
Provider rules change, so treat this as a current planning snapshot rather than a substitute for the written terms on your account. Filter the table, then check the provider-specific notes before you book the move.
| Provider | When to contact | Published move cost | Contract at new address | If the new address cannot be served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT | Start once the address and move date are firm. | BT says it generally does not charge a home-move fee, although some connection charges can apply. A new broadband contract during the move can remove those connection fees. | Confirm the broadband term shown on the home-move order before accepting it. | Ask BT for the exact options and any early termination charge in writing; its public move page does not state a blanket no-fee rule for every unserviceable address. |
| Virgin Media | At least 30 days for a service move. | £20 service-transfer fee is currently published. | If the same services continue, the remaining minimum period continues. A changed service can start a new minimum period. | For a UK move outside the network, Virgin says an Early Disconnection Fee can be credited back after valid new-address evidence is provided and checked. |
| Sky | 2-4 weeks in advance. | Sky currently says home moves are free for Sky VIP customers and £50 otherwise. | Sky says customers can usually keep the same package and price where it is available. Confirm any changed-package minimum term before accepting it. | Sky says that if it is not available at the new address, you can cancel when you move with no exit fees. |
| EE | At least 3 weeks in advance. | EE says broadband home moves have no activation or connection fee; a delivery charge may apply for new equipment. | A like-for-like move can transfer the current plan and pricing. | EE says it will explain alternatives where the same service is not available. Get the contract and cancellation outcome confirmed before ceasing service. |
| Vodafone | At least 30 days in advance. | The public home-move help page does not state a universal move fee. | Confirm the minimum term and package shown in My Vodafone before submitting the move. | Check new-address availability and request the exact early termination position if the fixed service cannot be moved. |
| TalkTalk | Ideally 3-4 weeks in advance. | TalkTalk currently publishes £60 to carry over an existing contract; it says there is no additional home-move fee when starting a new contract. | Customers on current plans can keep the current contract; legacy packages may be moved to a current plan. | If you cancel before the contract ends, TalkTalk says early termination fees may apply. Get the exact figure before deciding. |
BT Moving Home Policy & Openreach Transfers
BT says it generally does not charge a moving-home fee. Some connection charges can apply where a line is needed, while taking a new broadband contract during the home move can remove those connection fees. Because the broadband contract outcome depends on the order, check the new minimum term before accepting it.
Virgin Media Moving Home Process & Network Restrictions
Virgin Media publishes a £20 service-transfer fee. If the same services continue, the remaining minimum period carries over; changing services can start a new minimum period. For a move outside the Virgin network within the UK, its current policy allows an Early Disconnection Fee to be credited back after valid proof of the new address is supplied.
Sky Broadband Moving Home & Engineer Booking
Sky asks existing customers to contact it 2-4 weeks before the move. It says the same package and price can usually move where available, and currently lists a £50 home-move cost for non-VIP customers while Sky VIP moves are free. If Sky is unavailable at the new address, its current page says you can cancel with no exit fee.
EE Broadband Moving Home
EE recommends at least three weeks' notice. A like-for-like move can keep the current plan and pricing, and EE says there are no broadband activation or connection fees, although new-equipment delivery can carry a charge.
Vodafone Broadband Moving Home
Vodafone asks for at least 30 days' notice and lets account holders organise the move through My Vodafone. Take the router with you and check the account-specific minimum term and any charges before confirming the order.
TalkTalk Broadband Moving Home
TalkTalk recommends 3-4 weeks' notice. Its current help page says carrying over an existing contract costs £60, while starting a new contract avoids an additional home-move fee. Current plans can usually retain the existing contract; legacy packages may need to move to a current plan.
Policy snapshot checked 13 August 2026. Prices, eligibility and contract terms can change. Always save the home-move order summary supplied by your provider.
Interactive move checker
Moving home broadband exit-fee & waiver checker
Use this to expose the contract value still at risk and see the current moving-policy note for your provider. It deliberately does not pretend that every provider calculates an Early Termination Charge as monthly price × months left.
Remaining contract value£0.00This is a planning figure, not the provider's ETC.
Provider moving-policy check
Select your provider and enter your contract details.
Contract risk
Moving house does not automatically cancel a broadband contract
Provider home-move policies differ. A provider may be able to transfer your service, may offer a different package at the new property, or may be unable to serve the address at all. None of those situations should be assumed to remove an existing minimum-term liability unless the contract or provider policy says so.
Ask for the exact exit figure
If you are still in a minimum term, get the early termination charge before deciding. Use the early-switch guide to understand the questions to ask.
Watch for a new minimum term
A home move or package change can involve new terms. Do not treat a “free move” as free if it quietly resets the contract for 18 or 24 months.
Out of contract?
If the minimum term has ended, compare the new-address market before accepting a retention deal. The available networks may be completely different.
Useful distinction: One Touch Switch is designed for provider switching. House moves have separate practical and number-porting scenarios, so do not assume a normal OTS order transfers your service from the old address to the new one.
Ofcom automatic compensation
Broadband installation delay compensation when moving home
If a signed-up provider misses the promised start date, misses an engineer appointment or leaves a live service unrepaired after a total loss of service, Ofcom's automatic compensation scheme can apply. The rates below are the current 2026 amounts.
For each calendar day after the promised start date that a qualifying new service remains delayed.
For a scheduled engineer appointment that is missed or cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice.
Where a qualifying total loss of service is not fully repaired after two full working days from reporting the fault.
Moving-home compensation: the details that matter
- Payment timing: compensation should normally be credited no later than 30 calendar days after the issue is resolved, the missed appointment passes or a delayed order is cancelled.
- Signed providers: Ofcom currently lists BT, EE, Hyperoptic, Plusnet, Sky (including NOW Broadband), TalkTalk, Utility Warehouse, Virgin Media, Vodafone and Zen Internet. Restrictions apply to some TalkTalk customers not on Openreach.
- Do not create your own exclusion: if you ask for a later engineer appointment and that delays resolution, the scheme may not compensate the customer-caused part of the delay.
- Events beyond provider control: unless an exclusion applies, Ofcom says compensation can still be due even where extreme weather, strikes or third-party acts caused the problem.
Continuity
How to reduce broadband downtime when moving
01
Order against the exact address
An incorrect flat number or address record can delay matching, surveys and installation. Check the full postal address used by the provider.
02
Do not cease too early
If you still need internet at the old property, do not request an early cease simply because the new order has been accepted.
03
Consider deliberate overlap
Where the budget allows, overlapping old and new services for a short period can reduce risk—especially when the new property needs an engineer or new network installation.
04
Prepare a mobile fallback
For work-critical moves, test mobile coverage and tethering before moving day. A phone hotspot or temporary 4G/5G router can bridge a short activation delay.
If activation is delayed: keep the promised activation date and provider messages. If the provider is signed up to Ofcom's automatic compensation scheme and the circumstances qualify, use the broadband compensation calculator to estimate the amount, then check the delayed activation guide for the evidence and next steps.
Property-chain contingency
What to do if completion slips or the new-build broadband is not ready
Reschedule before the engineer slot
Contact the provider as soon as the property completion date changes. Ask it to move the activation or engineer appointment and keep written confirmation of the new date. Do not simply miss the appointment: customer-caused delays can affect automatic-compensation eligibility.
Do not cease the old service until the new plan is clear
If you still control the old property and need connectivity, check whether the cease can stay on its original date or be moved. If the new order cannot be rescheduled cleanly, price a short overlap or mobile fallback before cancelling anything.
Check the exact address record, ONT and external fibre route
A development can be served in the street while an individual plot is not yet orderable. Ask whether the exact postal address is recognised, whether an ONT is already fitted, whether external fibre work is complete and whether the developer, freeholder or network operator still has work outstanding.
Confirm access, wayleave and landlord permissions early
Flats and new developments may need access to communal areas, risers or external walls. Ask the provider what physical work is required before the appointment so permissions do not become the hidden cause of delay.
Renters, leaseholders & flats
Check installation permission before ordering new full fibre
Changing provider can be simple when the new property already has a usable socket or ONT. It can be more complicated when the installation requires drilling, external cabling, communal risers, shared corridors or access controlled by a landlord, freeholder or managing agent.
Renting a house
Check your tenancy before authorising permanent alterations such as drilling or external cabling. Ask the provider what work is required so you can request permission accurately.
Moving into a flat
Confirm whether the building is already enabled for the provider. A network being present in the street does not mean your individual flat has a completed route.
Landlord does not respond
UK law provides operators with access routes in certain multi-dwelling situations where a landowner repeatedly fails to respond. That process is for the operator to follow and is not a blanket permission for residents to carry out building works themselves.
Students & shared HMOs
Agree the account holder, cease date and fibre-install permissions before move-in
Old houseConfirm whose name is on the broadband contract and the actual cease date. Moving out of the tenancy does not by itself close the broadband account.
New HMOAgree who will hold the new account, how bills will be shared and whether another tenant or landlord already has an active service at the address.
FTTP / ONT workIf installation needs drilling, an external cable route, communal-area access or a new ONT, obtain the required landlord, freeholder or managing-agent permission before the engineer visit.
Government context: the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) framework was introduced to help operators obtain access to blocks of flats in defined circumstances when a landowner does not respond. Check the provider's installation team and your tenancy/lease before assuming it applies to your property.
Landline & Digital Voice
Tell the provider before the old number is ceased
If keeping a landline or Digital Voice number matters, raise it when arranging the move or new order. House moves are a special case for number porting, and geographic numbers are not always portable to every location or network.
Ask explicitly to keep the number
Do not assume a broadband transfer automatically preserves it. Get confirmation before the old service is stopped.
Check alarms and telecare
If a device depends on the old phone line or router, confirm compatibility with the new service before the move.
Plan for power cuts
Digital Voice normally depends on powered broadband equipment. If voice resilience matters, ask the provider what backup options are available.
Current provider
Check the provider-specific guide before you call
Use the LinkSpeed provider pages to identify your router, network type, support route and switching context. Then ask the provider's home-move team for the current address-specific offer and terms.
FAQs
Moving home broadband FAQs
Can I take my broadband with me when I move?
Often yes if your current provider serves the new address. Check the technology, speed, move charge, installation requirements and whether the transfer creates a new minimum term before agreeing.
Does One Touch Switch cover a house move?
One Touch Switch is used when changing broadband provider, but a physical house move adds a separate home-move and new-address provisioning process. Ofcom switching rules also include protections for customers moving location. Confirm with the gaining provider how the provider switch and the new-address activation will be coordinated.
Can my provider charge an exit fee if it cannot serve my new address?
Potentially. The outcome depends on your contract and the provider's current moving-home policy. Ask for the exact early termination charge and any waiver policy in writing before cancelling.
When should I arrange broadband for a new house?
As soon as the address and move date are firm enough to order. Installation lead times vary by network and property, so the useful target is not a universal number of days: it is having the required engineer or activation date confirmed before you depend on the service.
Do I need landlord permission for fibre broadband?
If installation needs alterations such as drilling, external cabling or access to shared areas, check the tenancy or lease and obtain any required permission. Ask the network operator what work is needed before requesting consent.
What should students check when moving broadband between rented houses?
Confirm who owns the existing contract, when it will actually cease and what can be ordered at the new address. In a shared HMO, agree who will hold the new account and get any required permission for drilling, external cabling, shared-area access or a new ONT before the engineer visit.
Can I keep my landline number when moving?
Sometimes. Number portability can depend on the geographic area and provider. Tell the provider before the old service is ceased and get confirmation if retaining the number is important.
Official checks
Rules and policies to verify before the move
Provider home-move terms can change. The policy table on this page was checked against the current official help pages below on 13 August 2026; always compare them with the written terms supplied with your own order.