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When moving home, you’ll have all sorts of tasks to take care of. From packing and unloading boxes to hiring moving vans and filling out paperwork, it can be easy to forget about broadband. While this can seem like an arduous chore, it’s actually really simple. This guide explains how long it takes to set up internet in a new house.
We’ve also gone over the broadband installation process with different providers in mind and highlighted what you need to know about your broadband contract when moving home.
It usually takes around two weeks’ to set up internet in a new home. If the property already has a working broadband line installed then getting internet access could be as simple as plugging in your new router when you arrive.
If a new line needs installing however – whether this be for a new provider or a new service like cable or fibre broadband – then an engineer visit can take up to two weeks’ to arrange. If your current provider is available in the new property then they’ll do most of the work for you (though will often charge for this service).
Research has shown that nearly all major broadband providers have customers waiting at least a week to be connected. As far as UK providers are concerned, Plusnet take the longest time, whereas the wait time for Virgin Media customers is the shortest.
So what are the average installation times for different UK broadband providers?
If your situation is more complicated, then you might have to wait a little longer to get your service connected (we’ve gone into some of these potential delays below).
Broadband installation times aren’t set in stone. There are several common reasons that people experience which cause a delay to internet installation:
Moving between two providers that share the Openreach network (which includes everyone apart from Virgin Media and Hyperoptic) means that you probably won’t need an engineer to come to your home to install the new broadband service.
BT recommends giving a minimum of two weeks notice before you move, so as to avoid any loss of service. If a landline is already installed at your property then this service could be up and running within a couple of days.
With BT, all you need to do is fill in your home phone number and account number, along with your new address postcode and move-in date. They’ll then do the rest for you.
Just like BT, TalkTalk requires at least two weeks notice to transfer a broadband service to your new home. They’re very accommodating in the sense that they can work towards a move-in date which is a maximum of three months away.
TalkTalk charges £60 to transfer your broadband to a new address. To get this ball rolling, you should start an online chat through your account and provide them with your new address and moving date.
Sky usually takes around two weeks to get a new broadband connection set up. Having a landline phone will likely require a connection charge of £20. Once you’ve picked your service, Sky will confirm your activation date.
When it comes to set-up costs for Sky, these usually start around the £20 mark and can reach as high as £50, plus an additional £9.55 for delivery of the Sky Hub router.
Getting Virgin Media installed works a little differently as the brand has its own network that operates outside of the Openreach network. You don’t always need a phone line to get Virgin. If your home has been connected to the Virgin Media network in the last three years then you can use a self-installation pack to do this yourself. If you’re a brand new customer then Virgin will offer you some potential installation dates within 14 or so days.
You shouldn’t need to worry about cancellation fees either. If you’re moving to a property that doesn’t have access to its network then as long as you let Virgin know, they’ll cancel your contract with them fee-free.
Regardless of which provider you choose for your new internet connection, the process for installing a fixed-line tends to be pretty similar:
When you’re moving home, there are a few things you should find out about your broadband contract:
You can use Ofcom’s broadband coverage checker to see which providers are available in your area.
The majority of broadband providers will allow you to take your broadband service with you when you move, provided they have coverage in that area. A small fee will usually apply for this service.
Some providers will also ask you to start a new contract with them – which would mean committing to another 12, 18 or even 24 months once you’ve moved. This isn’t always a bad thing, as securing a lower monthly rate from your current provider is an ideal situation. If they’re unable to offer you a good price or indicate that there may be price jumps then you should start exploring other packages.
However, it might not always make sense to swap providers. It may be worth staying with your current provider and simply transferring your broadband if:
When moving house, you might want to change to a new broadband provider if your current service isn’t available where you’re moving to.
To make this switch, you should compare broadband deals to see what services and packages are available.
If you’re still within your initial contract period however, then you’ll need to pay an early termination fee. The amount this will cost depends on your provider, how long is left on the contract and which services you’re subscribed to.
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