How Long Does It Take to Set Up Internet in a New House?

How long does it take to set up internet in a new house?
How long does it take to set up internet in a new house?

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.

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How long does it take to set up internet in a new 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?

  • Virgin Media – 6.6 days
  • Vodafone – 7.3 days
  • Sky Broadband – 7.7 days
  • EE – 8.1 days
  • BT – 8.6 days
  • TalkTalk – 9.4 days
  • Plusnet – 9.9 days

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).

What could delay your broadband installation?

Broadband installation times aren’t set in stone. There are several common reasons that people experience which cause a delay to internet installation:

  • You need a new phone line – Most properties have had a BT landline installed at some point (which is required by any provider operating on the Openreach network – except from Virgin Media and Hyperoptic). If your home doesn’t have a landline connection then one will need to be installed for you to get internet access
  • You’re moving to a newly built property – New build properties need to be registered with Royal Mail before an order can be placed for a phone line or broadband
  • You live in a rented property – When renting, you might first need to ask the landlord’s permission before getting broadband or a phone line installed. Though there’s no valid reason for a landlord to say no, be sure to double-check your tenancy contract first
  • You miss the engineer appointment – Make sure you or somebody else aged 18 or over is in when the engineer is due to arrive. Otherwise, you’ll suffer a delay in installation and possible charges for wasting time

Switching between Openreach providers

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 broadband

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.

TalkTalk broadband

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 broadband

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.

Virgin Media broadband

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.

Broadband installation process

Regardless of which provider you choose for your new internet connection, the process for installing a fixed-line tends to be pretty similar:

  1. After signing your contract, you’ll be given a provisional date
  1. This installation date will then be confirmed by your provider, with a time slot allocated
  1. On this installation date, an engineer will arrive to carry out the installation. Depending on what’s required, they may need to do work inside and outside your property
  1. A box will probably be installed inside your home to connect your house to the network
  1. The engineer will then check your new connection and router (this will either arrive in advance or with your engineer on the day)
  1. Once your broadband has been installed, you’ll just need to confirm it’s working before signing off on it

What should you find out about your broadband contract when moving home?

When you’re moving home, there are a few things you should find out about your broadband contract:

  • Are you under contract with your current provider? If so, is this fixed-term ending soon?
  • Has your provider raised prices above the rate of inflation while you’ve been with them? If this is the case then you could be free to leave without penalty
  • Are you happy with your current broadband provider and package?
  • Does your current provider operate where you’re moving to?
  • If they do, then does your current provider service the specific property you’re moving to?
  • If your current provider doesn’t have coverage where you’re moving, then which providers do?

You can use Ofcom’s broadband coverage checker to see which providers are available in your area.

Keeping and transferring your broadband provider

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:

  • They have coverage in your area
  • You’re happy with your current broadband package
  • You’re still under contract and don’t want to pay any cancellation fees

Cancelling broadband when moving house

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.

Already sorted your house but need to set up bills? We can help with this too – we set up and split utilities for you. Get a free quote for your utilities here.