No Broadband When You Move In? Here's What to Actually Do

You've moved in. The boxes are mostly unpacked. And you have no internet — because the earliest broadband installation slot was two and a half weeks away.

This happens to a lot of people, and it usually isn't anyone's fault. Here's why it happens, and what actually works in the meantime.

Why the gap happens

Broadband providers need a working line and an engineer visit before service starts. A few things commonly extend the wait:

• New builds or properties with no existing line often need infrastructure work before an engineer visit can even be booked
• Provider switching (rather than a straightforward house move on the same provider) sometimes takes longer to process
• Peak season demand — house moves cluster around the same weeks each year, and so do installation requests

Two to three weeks is a realistic average. In a new build or an unusual property, it can run longer. If you book the moment you have a moving date, rather than after you've moved, you'll usually get a shorter wait — but even then, a gap of some kind is common.

What actually works while you wait

• A 4G or 5G mobile router The most reliable fix for most households. It's a small device, no engineer visit required, and it gives you a proper home wifi network — for one person on a laptop or a whole household streaming and working from home. Coverage in most of the UK is now good enough that speeds are genuinely usable, not just emergency-only. You can rent one short-term rather than buy, which matters if you only need it for a fortnight.
• Tethering off your phone Works for checking emails and browsing. It falls over quickly with more than one device, video calls, or anyone working from home — and it can eat through a mobile data allowance faster than expected.
• A neighbour's wifi, with permission Genuinely fine for light use if you've got a friendly neighbour and they're happy to share a password. Not something to rely on for video calls or anything that needs a stable connection.
• Public wifi and cafés Reasonable as a stopgap for occasional use. Not a real solution if you're working from home during the gap.

What doesn't really work

How to shrink the gap next time

• Book the moment you have a completion date, not after you've moved. Every week earlier is a week less waiting.
• Ask directly whether the property already has an active line. A property with existing infrastructure connects far faster than one needing new work.
• Check if your current provider offers a "move home" service rather than cancelling and rejoining — some providers can transfer a contract with a shorter gap than starting fresh elsewhere.

The bottom line

A broadband gap is common enough that it's worth planning for rather than being surprised by. If you already know your move-in date, it's worth sorting temporary internet before moving day rather than scrambling once you're in — a router booked in advance can arrive waiting for you, rather than being one more thing to sort in an already busy first week.