Last updated: Thursday 22 October 2026 (Europe/London).
Next update: when Ofcom changes its end-of-contract rules, or when the deals in this guide change price.
By: Switch Editorial Team, Switch Squid Ltd
As of 22 October 2026, Ofcom rules say your broadband provider must tell you between 10 and 40 days before your contract ends, by text, email or letter, what you pay now, what you will pay afterwards and its best deals. Once you are out of contract you can leave without an exit fee, and switching to a new full fibre deal such as BT Full Fibre 900 at £35.99 a month, or Hey!Broadband from £23 a month with a £100 switching credit where it is available, can cut your bill. One Touch Switch means your new provider arranges the move for you. This SwitchSquid guide explains what the notice must say, your choices when the contract finishes and how to switch without a gap in service. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay.
Sources: Ofcom — are you in or out of contract? and Ofcom — switching broadband provider (both checked on 22 October 2026).
BT Full Fibre 900 — £35.99 a month, £0 activation
Up to 900Mbps with 110Mbps upload for £35.99 a month on a 24-month contract when we checked on 22 October 2026
Available at most addresses with Openreach full fibre; switch with One Touch Switch
Main limitation: the price rises to £39.99 from 31 March 2027 and £43.99 from 31 March 2028
What your provider must tell you before your contract ends
Since February 2020, Ofcom has required broadband, phone and pay-TV providers to send an end-of-contract notification. Ofcom says it must arrive by text, email or letter between 10 and 40 days before your contract comes to an end, and it must include:
the date your contract ends;
any notice period for leaving;
the price you have been paying and the price you will pay once the contract is up;
your provider’s best deals, including prices only available to new customers;
details of any other contracts in your bundle, such as TV or a landline, with their end dates.
If you are already out of contract, your provider must remind you at least once a year and update you on its best deals. Ofcom calls this an annual best tariff notification.
The notice is easy to miss. It may land in a spam folder or arrive as a short text with a link. If you can’t find it, check your account on your provider’s website or app, which should show your contract end date.
Your options when your broadband contract ends
When the minimum term finishes, you have four realistic choices. Prices for the new deals below were checked on each provider’s website on 22 October 2026 for new customers.
Option | Monthly price | Speed (download / upload) | Contract | Upfront | Switching help | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Do nothing and stay out of contract | The out-of-contract price in your notice | Unchanged | Rolling, usually 30 days’ notice | £0 | None | Short stays only; usually the most expensive choice |
Re-contract with your current provider | Whatever your provider offers | Same or faster | 12 to 24 months | Varies | None | People happy with their service who can get the new-customer price |
BT Full Fibre 900 | £35.99, then £39.99 from 31 March 2027 and £43.99 from 31 March 2028 | 900 / 110Mbps | 24 months | £0 activation | One Touch Switch | Most addresses with Openreach full fibre |
Hey!Broadband Superfast 150 | £23, rising by £2 each April | 150 / 150Mbps | 24 months | £0 | £100 bill credit with One Touch Switch | Homes in parts of London and the South |
Hyperoptic 500Mb | From £20, rising by £4 each April; prices vary by location | 500 / 500Mbps | 24 months | Shown at checkout | Up to £300 credit towards exit fees | Flats and buildings on its network |
Hey!Broadband rolling 150 | £28 | 150 / 150Mbps | 30 days | £39 installation and set-up | None | People who may move soon |
Sources: BT broadband deals, Hey!Broadband and Hyperoptic, checked on 22 October 2026. Hey!Broadband and Hyperoptic are only available in some areas, so check your postcode.
Why doing nothing usually costs more. Your notice must show what you will pay after the contract finishes, and that figure is often well above the deal new customers get. Compare it with the prices above before you decide to stay put.
Choose Hey!Broadband — £100 credit when you switch
Symmetrical 150Mbps full fibre from £23 a month on 24 months
£100 bill credit when you switch with One Touch Switch. New customers on 24-month plans
Only in parts of London and the South; prices rise by £2 each April
How to haggle with your current provider
If you like your provider, the end-of-contract notice is your strongest bargaining chip. It lists the best deals the provider offers, including new-customer prices, so you know what to ask for.
Find the best price you can get elsewhere at your postcode, with the speed you want.
Call or use live chat and say your contract is ending and you are ready to leave.
Ask for the new-customer price listed in your notice, or a match for the deal you found.
Check the details: contract length, speed, set-up fee and the yearly price rises, which must be shown in pounds and pence on contracts signed since January 2025.
Get it in writing before you agree, and remember you have 14 days to change your mind on a new contract.
If they won’t move, switching is usually quicker than a second call. Our guides to BT deals for existing customers and Virgin Media alternatives show what is on offer.
How to switch broadband when your contract ends
Most switches now use One Touch Switch, which Ofcom describes as simple: you contact the provider you want to join, and it manages the move. You don’t need to call your old provider to cancel.
Check your end date in your notice or your account, so you don’t pay early termination charges.
Check what is available at your address, including full fibre, which may be faster and cheaper than what you have.
Sign up with your new provider. It will ask for your address, your current provider and the services you want to move.
Read the information your current provider sends, including any charges. Your new provider may be able to switch on your preferred date.
Connect your devices to the new router. Your old service should stop automatically once the new one works.
Return old equipment if your old provider asks for it, to avoid a charge.
Ofcom says your old provider must not charge you for any notice period after the switchover date, and any loss of service shouldn’t last longer than one working day. Our One Touch Switch guide covers the process in more detail, and our how to switch broadband guide covers moving between different networks.
Things to check before you switch
Email address. If you use an email address from your provider, check whether you can keep it. Ofcom advises setting up a new address first if you can’t.
Bundles. If your broadband comes with TV, you may need to cancel the TV part yourself. Check whether moving your broadband affects your landline.
Installation. A move to a different network, such as full fibre from an altnet, may need an engineer visit. Our full fibre installation guide explains what happens.
Social tariffs. If you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit or certain other benefits, Ofcom says you might qualify for a cheaper social tariff with no mid-contract price rises.
Cooling-off. You can cancel a new order within 14 calendar days. If the service has started, you may pay for what you used and for installation, and your old service won’t come back automatically.
Unsure which deals reach your address? Ask Squid AI, SwitchSquid’s AI deal assistant, to check broadband options for your postcode.
What if you want to leave before the contract ends?
You can, but you may have to pay early termination charges for the months left. If you switch with One Touch Switch, Ofcom says your provider must tell you about any charges before you switch.
Some new providers help with exit fees. Hyperoptic offers up to £300 credit towards exit fees, and Hey!Broadband invites customers stuck in a contract to ask for a buyout quote, paid as free months or bill credit. Work out the fee, subtract any credit and compare the result with what you would save. If you are within a couple of months of the end date, waiting is often cheaper.
For a wider list of deals this month, see our best broadband deals and full fibre broadband deals guides.
Fit summary
Switch now: your contract finishes within 40 days and a new deal beats your out-of-contract price.
Haggle first: you are happy with the service and your notice lists a cheaper new-customer price.
Wait: you still have several months left and the exit fee is bigger than the saving.
Important conditions
Early termination charges apply if you leave before your contract ends.
New-customer prices usually rise each April by a set amount in pounds and pence.
Hey!Broadband and Hyperoptic only cover some areas; check your postcode.
Hey!Broadband’s £100 credit needs One Touch Switch at checkout on a 24-month plan.
You have 14 days to cancel a new broadband order.
Final decision card
Notice arrived? Compare your out-of-contract price with a new deal today.
Want a national option? BT Full Fibre 900 is £35.99 a month with £0 activation.
In a Hey!Broadband area? Superfast 150 at £23 with £100 credit is the cheaper upgrade.
Contract ending soon? Check BT Full Fibre at your address
BT Full Fibre 900 for £35.99 a month, £0 activation
Your new provider manages the switch for you
Check your end date first to avoid early termination charges
FAQ
How long before my broadband contract ends will I be told?
Ofcom rules say your provider must tell you between 10 and 40 days before your contract ends. The notification can come by text, email or letter. It must include your end date, your current and future price and the provider’s best deals.
What happens when my broadband contract ends?
Your service carries on, but you usually move onto the provider’s standard out-of-contract price. You are free to leave without an exit fee, subject to any notice period. You can also agree a new contract with your provider or switch to another one.
Do I need to cancel my old broadband when I switch?
Usually not. With One Touch Switch, your new provider arranges the move and your old service stops automatically once the new one is working. You may need to cancel extras such as TV separately.
Can I leave my broadband contract early?
Yes, but you will usually pay early termination charges for the months left. If you use One Touch Switch, your provider must tell you about the charges first. Some new providers offer credit towards exit fees.
Will my broadband price go up when my contract ends?
Often, yes. Your end-of-contract notification must show what you will pay once the contract is up. Compare that price with new-customer deals before you decide to stay.
Can I keep my email address if I switch broadband?
It depends on your provider. Ofcom says your provider should tell you whether you can keep using an email address it supplied. If you can’t, set up a new address before you switch.
Last updated: Thursday 22 October 2026 (Europe/London).
Next update: when Ofcom changes its end-of-contract rules, or when the deals in this guide change price.
By: Switch Editorial Team, Switch Squid Ltd
