No mobile signal at your new home: can you leave your contract?
Short answer
Possibly. Ofcom says that if your provider cannot give you the service you need at your new address, ask what cancelling would cost, as not all companies charge an early termination charge then. Check coverage first, try Wi-Fi calling, and compare any exit fee with the cost of a network that works there.
Updated
14 days
To test signal on a new contract, when Ofcom says you may cancel without charge
1 working day
For a new network to complete your switch with a PAC code
6 weeks
Before an unresolved complaint can go to an ADR scheme
A move can leave you in a signal blackspot partway through a contract. Check what the network should reach, try the fixes, then work out what leaving would really cost.
How do you check mobile coverage at a new address?
Start with what each network predicts at the postcode, then test it where you will actually use your phone.
- Ofcom's coverage checker shows predicted indoor and outdoor coverage for calls, 3G and 4G from all major networks at a postcode, and where 5G is available outdoors.
- Ofcom says its predictions are usually accurate but may not always match coverage on the ground, and networks' own checkers can show different levels. Some network checkers let you say which phone you will use.
- Thick walls, metal window frames and basement rooms can all weaken signal indoors, Ofcom says, and building work around your home can affect it too.
- Check the places you go often as well as home, and ask neighbours how their network performs.
Sources: Ofcom: improving your mobile phone reception (read 13 October 2026); Ofcom: mobile phone service faults and problems (read 13 October 2026)
Can you leave your mobile contract if there is no signal at your new home?
Possibly, but it is not guaranteed. What leaving costs depends on your provider and how long is left on your contract.
- Ofcom says to check what service your provider can offer at your new address. If it can't offer the level of service you need, ask how much you would need to pay to cancel.
- Not all companies would charge an early termination charge in these circumstances, Ofcom says, so ask before you assume you must pay.
- Citizens Advice says you might have to pay a cancellation fee if your provider doesn't offer the same service in your new area, and that explaining your situation might get the fee reduced or removed.
- If you have been without service for a while, Ofcom says you may have the right to leave without penalty, and your contract may let you leave if the provider has failed in its obligations or breached a key condition.
- Signed up in the last 14 days? Ofcom says you may be able to cancel without charge, so test the signal at home straight away.
Sources: Ofcom: mobile phone service faults and problems (read 13 October 2026); Citizens Advice: cancelling a phone, TV, internet or mobile contract (read 13 October 2026); Ofcom: improving your mobile phone reception (read 13 October 2026)
Is it worth paying the exit fee to leave?
Get the exact fee from your provider, then compare it with what a network that works at home would save you.
- Ask your provider for the exact early termination charge for your leaving date. Ofcom says your current provider must also send important information, such as any early termination charges, when you switch.
- Divide the fee by how much less a working network would cost you each month. Example: a £60 fee and a plan costing £15 a month less is paid back after four months.
- If more months than that are left on your contract, leaving may cost less than staying. Ofcom says phone contracts typically run for 12, 18 or 24 months.
- Your provider must tell you 10 to 40 days before your contract ends, Ofcom says, so a short wait can mean no exit fee at all.
Sources: Ofcom: switching mobile phone provider (read 13 October 2026); Ofcom: are you in or out of contract? (read 13 October 2026)
Can Wi-Fi calling or a booster fix poor signal at home?
- Some networks offer Wi-Fi calling, which Ofcom says can be a good solution when your home has poor mobile coverage but a good Wi-Fi connection. Some networks do it automatically, and others need an app.
- Not all phones work with Wi-Fi calling, Ofcom says, so check with your network before you rely on it.
- Some operators offer home devices that boost signal by sending traffic over your broadband. Repeaters use outdoor signal to improve coverage inside, and work best when the outdoor signal is strong.
- Ofcom says a signal booster or other equipment might be available from your provider, so ask before you decide to leave.
Sources: Ofcom: improving your mobile phone reception (read 13 October 2026); Ofcom: mobile phone service faults and problems (read 13 October 2026)
How do you test a network before you sign a new contract?
- Ofcom suggests trying a network without a long contract, for example on a SIM-only monthly plan or pay-as-you-go.
- If you do sign a new contract, Ofcom says you may be able to cancel without charge within the first 14 calendar days, so check the signal at home during that time.
- Some operators offer guarantees beyond the first 14 days, Ofcom says, so ask before you buy.
- Keep your number by texting PAC to 65075. Ofcom says your provider must reply within one minute, the code is valid for 30 days, and your new network must complete the switch within one working day.
Sources: Ofcom: improving your mobile phone reception (read 13 October 2026); Ofcom: switching mobile phone provider (read 13 October 2026)
What should you do if your new home has no signal?
- 1
Check the coverage checker
Look up the new postcode on Ofcom's coverage checker and on your network's own checker.
- 2
Try Wi-Fi calling
Turn it on if your phone and network support it, so calls can run over your home broadband.
- 3
Ask your provider what it can offer
Ask about signal boosters, and what cancelling would cost if it cannot give you the service you need.
- 4
Work out the exit fee
Compare the exact fee with what a network that works at home would save you over the months left.
- 5
Switch with a PAC code
Text PAC to 65075 and give the code to your new network, which Ofcom says must complete the switch within one working day.
Sources: Ofcom: improving your mobile phone reception (read 13 October 2026); Ofcom: mobile phone service faults and problems (read 13 October 2026); Ofcom: switching mobile phone provider (read 13 October 2026)
What if your provider will not help?
- Keep a note of where and when the signal drops, as Ofcom suggests. It helps when you speak to your provider.
- Follow your provider's complaints process. If your complaint is still unresolved after six weeks, Ofcom says you can take it to an Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme, or sooner with a deadlock letter.
- The two schemes are CISAS and the Communications Ombudsman, and every provider must belong to one.
Sources: Ofcom: mobile phone service faults and problems (read 13 October 2026)
Your options when a new home has no signal
| Option | When it helps | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi calling | Your home has good broadband but weak mobile signal. | Your phone and network must support it. Ofcom says not all phones do. |
| Signal booster | Signal is weak indoors. | Ask your provider. Repeaters need a strong signal outdoors to work well. |
| Leave by agreement | Your provider cannot give you the service you need at the new address. | Ask what cancelling would cost. Ofcom says not all companies charge an early termination charge then. |
| Pay the exit fee and switch | A working network saves more than the fee over the months left. | Get the exact fee, then divide it by the monthly saving to see when it pays back. |
| Cancel within 14 days | You signed a new contract less than 14 days ago. | Ofcom says you may be able to cancel without charge, so test the signal at home now. |
No mobile signal at a new home: questions
Can I cancel my phone contract if there is no signal at my new house?
You can ask. Ofcom says that if your provider cannot give you the service you need at your new address, ask what cancelling would cost, and that not all companies charge an early termination charge then. Citizens Advice says a fee might still apply, so get the answer in writing.
Does Wi-Fi calling work if there is no mobile signal?
It can. Ofcom says Wi-Fi calling can be a good solution if your home has poor mobile coverage but a good Wi-Fi connection. Not every phone or network supports it, so check with your network before you rely on it.
How accurate is Ofcom's mobile coverage checker?
Ofcom says its predictions are usually accurate but may not always match coverage on the ground, and networks' own checkers can show different levels. Walls, metal window frames and basements can weaken signal indoors, so test at home where you can.
How can I test a network before I switch?
Ofcom suggests trying it without a long contract, for example on a SIM-only monthly plan or pay-as-you-go. If you sign a new contract, you may be able to cancel without charge in the first 14 days, so test the signal at home straight away.
Is it worth paying the exit fee to leave?
Work it out. Divide the exit fee by how much less a working network would cost you each month. A £60 fee and a £15 monthly saving pay back in four months, so if more months than that are left on your contract, leaving may cost less.
Sort the rest of your mobile and broadband move
Contracts, switching and coverage checks for your new address.
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