Do you pay a broadband exit fee when you move house?
Short answer
You might. Citizens Advice says a fee can apply even if your provider cannot serve your new area. Sky and Plusnet say you pay no exit fee in that case. Virgin Media may credit its fee back with proof of the move. Others may charge one or do not say, so get the answer in writing first.
Updated
10 providers
Moving rules read on their own pages on 13 October 2026
£6.46 a day
Ofcom compensation when a participating provider starts your service late
Moving does not end a broadband contract on its own. What leaving costs depends on your provider's moving rules, so we read ten providers' own pages and terms.
What each provider says about moving house
| Provider | Moving the service: fee and notice | If it cannot serve your new address |
|---|---|---|
| BT | No general move fee listed. BT says it will tell you if a new line installation costs extra. Give at least one month's notice. | Not stated on BT's moving page. Get BT's answer in writing before you cancel. |
| EE | No activation or connection fee for broadband customers, but new equipment has a delivery charge. Tell EE at least 3 weeks before you move. | Not stated on EE's moving page. Get EE's answer in writing before you cancel. |
| Sky | £50, or free for Sky VIP customers. Tell Sky 2 to 4 weeks ahead. A transfer can take up to 10 working days. | Sky says that if it is not available at your new address, you can cancel when you move with no exit fees. |
| NOW | No fee stated. Tell NOW at least two weeks before you move. A move takes around 10 working days. | Not stated on NOW's moving page. NOW says it can only provide plans that the telephone exchange at your new address supports. |
| Virgin Media | No move fee stated on the pages we read. Cancelling needs 30 days' notice. | You may have to pay an Early Disconnection Fee. Virgin Media says it can credit it back if you send valid evidence of a new UK address outside its network, which it checks within 30 days. |
| TalkTalk | £60 to keep your existing contract, or no extra fee if you start a new one. TalkTalk suggests telling it 3 to 4 weeks before, and no sooner than 3 months before. | Not stated on TalkTalk's home move page. Get TalkTalk's answer in writing before you cancel. |
| Vodafone | Connection charges may apply if you need a new line or fibre connection. Give at least 30 days' notice. | Vodafone's terms let you end the agreement with reasonable evidence of the move, but Vodafone reserves the right to apply termination fees and charges. |
| Plusnet | A £65 home move fee may apply if you keep your existing contract, or no fee if you take a new one. Tell Plusnet at least four weeks, and no more than 90 days, before. | Plusnet's terms say you won't pay a fee to end your agreement early if it can't provide your current service at your new UK address. |
| Hyperoptic | No charge to move within the same building. A different building means a new account, and fees may apply. Cancelling needs 30 days' notice. | Hyperoptic says you will need to end your service and may pay a Service Termination Fee, which depends on the time left on your minimum period. |
| Community Fibre | Your service can move if Community Fibre serves the new address. Cancelling needs 30 days' notice. | Community Fibre says an Early Termination Fee applies in your minimum term: 90% of your monthly price for the months left, cut by a further 50% if you pay the final invoice promptly. |
Which providers waive the exit fee if they cannot serve your new home?
We read each provider's own moving page or terms on 13 October 2026. These are company policies rather than regulator rules, and they can change, so ask your provider to confirm in writing.
- Sky says that if it is not available at your new address, you can cancel when you move with no exit fees.
- Plusnet's terms say you won't have to pay a fee to end your agreement early if it can't provide your current service at your new UK address.
- Virgin Media says you may have to pay an Early Disconnection Fee, but it can be credited back if you send valid evidence that you have moved to a UK address outside its network.
- Vodafone's terms let you end the agreement if it cannot serve your new UK address, with reasonable evidence of the move, but Vodafone reserves the right to apply termination fees and charges.
- Hyperoptic says you may pay a Service Termination Fee, and Community Fibre says an Early Termination Fee applies if you are still in your minimum term.
- BT, EE, TalkTalk and NOW do not say on their moving pages what happens if they cannot serve the new address.
Sources: BT: moving home with BT (read 13 October 2026); EE: how to move home with EE (read 13 October 2026); Sky: moving home broadband (read 13 October 2026); NOW: move NOW Broadband to your new home (read 13 October 2026); Virgin Media: early disconnection fees (read 13 October 2026); Virgin Media: information about your contract (read 13 October 2026); TalkTalk: home move (read 13 October 2026); Vodafone: Home Broadband and Phone terms, 12 November 2025 (read 13 October 2026); Plusnet: moving home (read 13 October 2026); Plusnet: residential terms, section 9 on moving home (read 13 October 2026); Hyperoptic: moving home (read 13 October 2026); Community Fibre: I am moving home, what are my options? (read 13 October 2026)
Does Ofcom let you leave a contract when you move house?
The Ofcom pages we read explain how to switch provider, but not a right to leave free because you move. Your provider's terms decide that.
- Ofcom brought in One Touch Switch by changing General Condition C7, its rule on switching. You contact only your new provider, and your current provider automatically sends switching information, such as early termination charges and the effect on other services.
- Your old provider must not charge you for a notice period after the switchover date. Switching before the end of your contract can still mean early termination charges, Ofcom says.
- Ofcom's advice for movers is that if you are changing broadband provider, you'll need to cancel your current contract, and arrange a start date for the new service in time for your move.
- Citizens Advice says you might have to pay a cancellation fee to leave early if your provider doesn't offer the same service in your new area. It suggests explaining your situation, as the provider might reduce or remove the fee.
Sources: Ofcom: quick, easy and reliable switching (read 13 October 2026); Ofcom: simpler and quicker broadband switching is here (read 13 October 2026); Ofcom: switching broadband provider (read 13 October 2026); Ofcom: moving home, top tips for keeping connected (read 13 October 2026); Citizens Advice: cancelling a phone, TV, internet or mobile contract (read 13 October 2026)
Should you move your broadband or switch when you move house?
Start with what the new address can get, then compare the cost of each route over the same months.
- Check the new address on Ofcom's broadband and mobile checker. Ofcom suggests checking whether your current network is available where you are moving to.
- If your contract has ended, you can shop around without an exit fee. Ofcom says you could save money by switching once you are out of contract.
- If you are still in contract and your provider serves the new address, you can usually take the contract with you. BT says any time left on your broadband contract moves to the new address if you keep the same service.
- Some providers charge to move a contract. TalkTalk charges £60 and Plusnet may charge £65 to keep your existing contract, and neither charges if you take a new contract instead.
- A new contract usually means a new minimum term. Plusnet's terms say so, and Vodafone's say a move may start one, so compare it as you would any new deal.
Sources: Ofcom: moving home, top tips for keeping connected (read 13 October 2026); Ofcom: are you in or out of contract? (read 13 October 2026); BT: moving home with BT (read 13 October 2026); TalkTalk: home move (read 13 October 2026); Plusnet: moving home (read 13 October 2026); Plusnet: residential terms, section 9 on moving home (read 13 October 2026); Vodafone: Home Broadband and Phone terms, 12 November 2025 (read 13 October 2026)
How do you move or end broadband when you move house?
Five steps, in order, so you do not pay for two services or miss a provider's fee waiver.
- 1
Find your contract end date
Check your provider's app or account. Ofcom says leaving before your contract ends might mean an exit fee.
- 2
Check the new address
Look it up on Ofcom's broadband and mobile checker, then ask your provider whether it can serve the new address.
- 3
Ask what moving or leaving would cost
Ask for any home move fee, any new line charge and the exact exit fee for your moving date, in writing.
- 4
Give notice in time
The providers we checked ask for between two weeks and a month, and cancelling often needs 30 days. Sky says a transfer can take up to 10 working days, and NOW says around 10.
- 5
Keep proof of your new address
Virgin Media and Vodafone both ask for evidence of the move if they cannot serve the new address, so keep a document that shows it.
Sources: Ofcom: are you in or out of contract? (read 13 October 2026); Ofcom: moving home, top tips for keeping connected (read 13 October 2026); Sky: moving home broadband (read 13 October 2026); NOW: move NOW Broadband to your new home (read 13 October 2026); Virgin Media: early disconnection fees (read 13 October 2026); Vodafone: Home Broadband and Phone terms, 12 November 2025 (read 13 October 2026)
What if broadband is late at your new home?
Keep the promised start date from your order. Ofcom's automatic compensation scheme pays set amounts when a participating provider misses it.
- If a participating provider misses the promised start date for a new service, Ofcom's scheme pays £6.46 for each calendar day of delay.
- A missed engineer appointment is worth £32.31, including a visit cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice.
- Participating providers include BT, EE, Hyperoptic, Plusnet, Sky including NOW Broadband, TalkTalk, Utility Warehouse, Virgin Media, Vodafone and Zen. For TalkTalk, restrictions apply to customers not on the Openreach network.
- Ofcom says the amounts rise each year in line with inflation, so check the current rates when you claim.
Sources: Ofcom: automatic compensation (read 13 October 2026)
What if your new rental already includes broadband?
- Citizens Advice says you might have to pay a cancellation fee if you are renting, broadband is included where you are moving, and you already have a contract for it.
- Explain the move to your provider. Citizens Advice says it might reduce or remove the fee.
- If you will share the new home, agree whose name any new contract goes in before anyone orders.
Sources: Citizens Advice: cancelling a phone, TV, internet or mobile contract (read 13 October 2026)
Broadband exit fee questions when you move
Can I cancel my broadband if my provider doesn't cover my new home?
Usually, but a fee may still apply. Sky and Plusnet say they charge no exit fee in that case, and Virgin Media may credit its fee back with proof of the move. Hyperoptic and Community Fibre say a fee may apply, so ask your provider to confirm in writing before you cancel.
Does One Touch Switch work when I move house?
One Touch Switch is Ofcom's process for changing provider. Its advice for movers is that if you change provider when you move, you'll need to cancel your current contract and arrange the new service's start date in time for the move. Check what cancelling will cost first.
Do I pay a fee to move my broadband to my new home?
Sometimes. Sky charges £50 unless you are a Sky VIP customer. TalkTalk charges £60 and Plusnet may charge £65 to keep your existing contract, but neither charges if you take a new contract, which comes with a new minimum term. A new line installation can also cost extra.
How much notice do I need to give when I move?
It varies by provider. The providers we checked ask for between two weeks and a month, Plusnet asks for at least four weeks but no more than 90 days, and cancelling often needs 30 days. Sky says a transfer can take up to 10 working days.
What if my provider won't waive the exit fee?
Explain the move and ask for the fee to be reduced or removed, which Citizens Advice suggests. If your provider's own terms say no fee applies when it cannot serve the new address, quote them in a written complaint and keep copies of what you send.
Plan the rest of your broadband move
Setup, delays and contract rules for movers, plus Ofcom's checker for your new address.
Start here
Broadband when moving house: move it or switch?
RecommendedCheck the new address, then move your service or order a new one in time.
Moving out bills checklist
Close or move every bill at the address you are leaving.
Can I switch broadband mid-contract?
Exit fees, penalty-free exits and One Touch Switch while you are in contract.
The landline switch-off in January 2027
What changes for home phones, telecare and alarms if your move falls near the switch-off.
Keep your broadband contract in view when you move
Taupia is free. It tracks your broadband and mobile bills and their end dates, compares deals and only switches once your household approves. It cannot promise a saving.