Moving broadband to a new address
Download the free PDF guide Illustrated guide · no signup
At a glance
You can take it with you. Most providers move your broadband to the new address rather than making you cancel.
A move avoids early-exit fees. Moving the line counts as a home move, not leaving early, so no penalty in most cases.
Give two to three weeks' notice. Tell the provider early so the new line is ready close to move-in day.
Check the service is available. If your provider cannot serve the new home, you may leave penalty-free.
Moving can restart your term. A move sometimes begins a fresh minimum term, so confirm the new contract length.
A hub covers any gap. If the new line lags moving day, a 4G or 5G hub keeps you online.
See what your provider, and 35+ others, can offer at your new address.
Independent · Free · No signup · 35+ providers
Move it or switch? A quick check
You have two routes when you move: transfer your service through your provider's home-move team, or switch to a better deal at the new address. Over two million households have used One Touch Switch since September 2024 (Ofcom, 2026).
First, check availability at the new address so you only compare deals you can have.
When you move home, you have two choices: take your current broadband with you, or use the move as a chance to switch to a better deal. Answer two quick questions to see which is likely to suit you, then a postcode check confirms what is actually available at the new address.
What is your situation?
Pick an option above for guidance.
General guidance only. A live postcode check confirms what you can get at the new address.
Stay or switch when you move
| Your situation | Best first step |
|---|---|
| Happy with provider, and they serve the new address | Transfer via the home-move team. |
| Out of contract | Compare better deals by total cost and switch; no exit fee. |
| In contract, provider cannot serve new home | Ask to waive the exit fee and look for a switching credit. |
| First broadband of your own | Start fresh and compare by total contract cost. |
Read how One Touch Switch works if you switch provider, and run a speed test once you are live. When you leave the old place, see our guide to ending broadband at the old place.
Line up your new start date with your old cease date so the two do not overlap or leave a gap. Automatic compensation pays £6.46 a day if a new start date slips (Ofcom, from 1 April 2026). With 28% of broadband customers out of contract and paying £7 to £9 a month more than in-contract customers (Ofcom, February 2026), a move is often the best moment to switch.
How moving your broadband works
To keep your provider, ask their home-move team to move the service to the new address. If they can serve it, this is usually straightforward; if they cannot, you may be able to leave without the usual exit charge, but you have to ask.
The provider checks whether they can serve the new address. If they can, they arrange the new line, sometimes with an engineer visit, sometimes activated remotely. If they cannot, you are usually released from the contract without penalty, which is a useful moment to shop around. This is not the same as One Touch Switch, which is for changing fixed-line provider rather than moving home with the same one. For the wider picture, see our overview of moving home broadband.
Moving it, step by step
A move is the perfect moment to compare the whole market for the new address. In-contract customers spend £7 to £9 a month less than out-of-contract customers, so switching often pays for itself (Ofcom, February 2026).
A move is the moment to compare lowest total cost deals for the new address.
- 1Check the new address. Confirm your provider can serve it, and compare what else is available there in case a better deal makes switching worthwhile.
- 2Tell your provider early. Give your new address and move date two to three weeks ahead, and ask them to confirm the new contract terms in writing.
- 3Book the activation. Aim the go-live or engineer date at, or just after, your move-in day. Note whether any engineer visit is needed.
- 4Set up at the new place. Plug in the router when the line is live, or use a 4G or 5G hub if it is not ready yet, then test the speed.
For typical timings, see our guide to UK broadband installation times. If you decide to switch rather than move, our companion guide on how to check availability before you move helps you pick the right new deal.
Contracts, fees and price
If your provider cannot serve the new address, you can often have the exit fee waived, but you must ask and show evidence of the move. You also have a 14-day cooling-off period on any new contract (Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013).
Moving the line usually avoids an early-exit fee, but there are a few things to confirm so there are no surprises.
| Point to check | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Early-exit charge | Normally none for a genuine home move, even mid-contract. Confirm this with your provider before the move. |
| New minimum term | Some providers start a fresh contract term when you move, often as a condition of moving. Ask how long it will be. |
| Move or setup fee | Some charge a small home-move or activation fee. Compare it against any early-exit fee you would pay to switch instead. |
| Price changes | Your price may be re-quoted at the new address. If it rises, it is worth comparing a fresh deal elsewhere. |
If a move would restart your contract at a higher price, weigh that against switching to a new provider with an introductory deal. A quick postcode comparison shows whether staying put or switching is the better value at your new home. If you are moving the router yourself, our guide to router return charges explains when kit needs returning.
If your provider cannot serve the new home
Sometimes your current provider simply does not reach the new address, for example if you are moving from a cable area to one served only by full fibre, or to a home on a different network. This is not a problem, and in fact it can work in your favour.
Run a postcode check at the new address to see every provider and technology available, then pick the best deal on a term that suits your plans. Look for full fibre where you can get it, and see how the technologies compare if you are choosing between them.
Staying online on moving day
You usually return the old router by tracked post, and may be able to keep your phone number if you stay with the same provider, though portability is not guaranteed on a home move. Confirm before you rely on it.
It is the ideal safety net for moving day, so you are never offline even if the activation runs a few days behind. Our full guide to 4G and 5G stopgap broadband covers the providers, terms and money-back windows.
Moving soon? Check what your provider, and others, can offer at the new address.
Independent · Free · No signup · 35+ providers
Five mistakes to avoid
Steer around these and moving your broadband stays cheap and smooth.
- Cancelling instead of moving. Cancelling mid-contract can trigger an early-exit fee; moving the line usually avoids it.
- Telling the provider too late. Give two to three weeks' notice so the new line is ready near move-in day.
- Not checking the new address. Confirm your provider can serve it, and compare what else is available there.
- Ignoring a restarted term. A move can begin a fresh minimum term, so confirm the new contract length and price.
- No backup for moving day. Have a 4G or 5G hub ready in case the new line lags your move-in date.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice should I give before I move?
Most providers ask for around 30 days' notice to move or cancel a service, even when you are out of contract, so tell them as soon as you have a move date.
Can I keep my phone number when I move?
Often yes if you stay with the same provider and the area allows it, but number portability is not guaranteed on a home move, so confirm before you rely on it.
Can I take my broadband with me when I move home?
Usually yes. Most providers let you move your broadband to a new address. You keep the same provider and account, and they transfer the service across. Tell them your new address and move date, ideally two to three weeks ahead, so the new line is ready close to move-in day.
Will I pay an early-exit fee if I move home mid-contract?
Normally no. Because moving the line is a home move rather than leaving early, it usually avoids an early-exit charge even mid-contract. Confirm this with your provider, and check whether the move starts a fresh minimum term.
What if my provider cannot serve my new address?
You are usually released from the contract without penalty, even if you are mid-term. That is a good moment to compare a fresh deal across all providers and switch to the best value at your new home. Run a postcode check to see what is available there.
Is moving my broadband the same as switching provider?
No. Moving keeps your current provider and account at a new address. Switching changes to a different provider, often handled by One Touch Switch. Moving usually avoids early-exit fees; switching mid-contract may incur them, so compare the costs.
How much notice should I give to move my broadband?
Aim for two to three weeks before your move-in date. A new line can take a couple of weeks to activate, sometimes with an engineer visit, so early notice means it is ready close to when you arrive. Have a 4G or 5G hub ready as a backup.
Will moving restart my contract?
It can. Some providers begin a fresh minimum term when you move, often as a condition of the move. Ask how long the new term will be and what the price is, and compare it against switching to a new deal if the price rises.
What can I use for internet on moving day if the line is not live?
A 4G or 5G home broadband hub. It needs no engineer, landline or drilling, works in minutes, and on a rolling plan you can stop it the moment your fixed line is live. It is the ideal safety net if the new line lags your move-in day.
Moving home? See what your provider, and 35+ others, can offer at your new address in about ten seconds.
Independent · Free · No signup · Save £180 to £292 a year
References
- Ofcom. (2024). Moving home: taking your broadband with you. ofcom.org.uk
- Ofcom. (2024). One Touch Switch. ofcom.org.uk
- Ofcom. (2025). Connected Nations UK report 2025. ofcom.org.uk
- Openreach. (n.d.). What to expect during your Full Fibre installation. openreach.com
Figures checked on 2 June 2026. Notice periods, move fees and contract terms vary and change; confirm the exact terms with your provider.