Broadband deals for renters UK October 2026: landlord permission, contract length and moving out

Last updated: Friday 9 October 2026 (Europe/London).
Next update: when BT or Virgin Media change these prices or their contract terms.
By: Switch Editorial Team, Switch Squid Ltd

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As of 9 October 2026, the broadband deals we compare for renters start at £23.99 a month on Virgin Media and £35.99 a month on BT Full Fibre 900, but nearly every one runs for 24 months, while most private tenancies in England now roll on with two months’ notice. The safest first step is to check whether your landlord will allow the installation, then pick a provider whose terms cover you if you move out early. SwitchSquid sets out the costs, the landlord and moving-out rules, and how the BT and Virgin Media plans compare for renters; we may earn a commission if you buy through our links.

Sources: BT — broadband deals, BT — home phone and broadband terms, Virgin Media — broadband deals, Openreach — Full Fibre installation checklist, GOV.UK — Renters’ Rights Act overview for tenants and Ofcom — broadband and mobile checker.

Why renting changes how you choose broadband

Most broadband deals are built for people who expect to stay put. The cheapest monthly prices usually come with a 24-month minimum term, and leaving early can mean paying for the months you have left. Renting adds three practical questions that owners rarely face: can you have the line installed at all, how long will you live there, and what happens if you move out before the contract ends?

The tenancy rules help to frame the second question. GOV.UK says that from 1 May 2026 most private tenancies in England are assured periodic tenancies, which means they roll on with no fixed end date, and a tenant ends one by giving at least two months’ written notice. That is more flexible than the fixed six or twelve-month agreements many renters were used to, but it also means a 24-month broadband contract is a much longer commitment than your tenancy. (The Renters’ Rights Act applies in England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules, so check your own tenancy agreement.)

None of this means you should avoid a long contract. It means you should know the exit cost before you sign, and choose a provider whose terms fit a tenant’s life.

Broadband deals for renters compared (checked 9 October 2026)

The table shows the BT and Virgin Media plans we list, with a worst-case exit figure: what you could still owe if you left after 12 months and your provider asked for the remaining payments. Many providers charge early exit fees this way, but terms differ: BT’s terms, for example, describe the compensation as the charges you would have paid for the rest of the term minus the costs it saves. Treat the last column as a ceiling for planning, and read your contract summary. BT’s prices rise on 31 March 2027 and 31 March 2028, so its 24-month cost assumes you start in October 2026 (six months at £35.99, twelve at £39.99 and six at £43.99).

Plan	Speed	Price a month	Cost over 24 months	Still to pay if you left after month 12
Virgin Media M125	132Mbps average	£23.99	£575.76	£287.88
Virgin Media M350	362Mbps average	£25.99	£623.76	£311.88
Virgin Media M500	516Mbps average	£27.99	£671.76	£335.88
Virgin Media Gig1	1136Mbps average	£29.99	£719.76	£359.88
BT Full Fibre 900	900Mbps, 700Mbps guaranteed	£35.99, then £39.99 and £43.99	£959.76	£503.88

Virgin Media’s prices rise to a much higher monthly price after the first 24 months (for example £80 a month on M500 and £86 on Gig1, on its page), but that only matters if you stay beyond two years. Virgin Media also says its network does not cover the whole of the UK and that you may need to pay an early disconnection fee if you cancel in the minimum period, including when you move to a property outside its network. Virgin Media also sells 30-day rolling contracts, which are worth a look if you are unsure how long you will stay, though they are not in the comparison above.

Ask your landlord before you order

Openreach’s installation guidance is clear that if you rent, you need your landlord’s permission for any drilling inside or outside the property. A new full fibre connection normally brings a cable from a pole or underground to a small junction box on an outside wall, then a second cable to a white box inside. Drilling a hole to bring that cable in is the part that needs consent. If a flat is part of a larger building, access to communal areas may also need approval from the owner of the building, which can take longer.

A short message to your landlord or letting agency helps. Say which provider you are considering, that the work involves a small hole and a junction box, and that the equipment can usually be removed when you leave. Ask for a yes in writing, because the engineer may need you to sign a permission form on the day. If your home already has a working fibre or cable connection, you may not need any new work at all, which makes a switch easier.

Our guide to what to expect during a full fibre installation walks through the visit step by step.

Check what you can get at your address

Availability varies from street to street, and sometimes from flat to flat. Ofcom’s broadband and mobile checker shows which networks and speeds are reported at your postcode, and it is a good starting point before you spend time on prices. Full fibre from Openreach, which BT sells, is not available everywhere yet, and Virgin Media’s network covers a different set of homes, so it is quite common for only one of the two to be available where you live.

When you check, use the full address, including the flat number, rather than only the postcode. A building with several flats may have different options for each, and the provider’s own checker will confirm what it can supply when you order.

What happens if you move out before the contract ends?

This is the question renters worry about most, and the answers differ by provider:

• If the provider can supply your new home, most will move your service for a fee or at no charge, and your contract continues. This works well if you move within the same network area.
• If the provider cannot supply your new home, BT’s home phone and broadband terms say you do not pay an early termination charge when you move and BT cannot provide the service at your new address, as long as you follow its home-move process and tell it in good time (the terms ask for at least 14 days before you move).
• Virgin Media says on its page that an early disconnection fee may apply during the minimum period, including when you move to an address outside its network.
• If you simply want to leave, ask whether the account can be transferred to the next tenant. Providers are not obliged to agree, but it is a fair question and can save you the remaining payments.

For a fuller look at what happens when you leave a BT contract early, see our BT Full Fibre 900 leaving fees guide. If you are about to move, our guide to broadband when you move house covers the timing, and our student lets guide looks at shared houses with a different set of dates.

Sharing a house: who signs the contract?

In a shared house, one person normally becomes the account holder, and the contract is in their name alone. That person is responsible for the payments, the credit check and any exit charge, even if the others contribute. Agree three things in advance: how the monthly bill will be split, what happens if someone moves out, and who keeps the router at the end. Putting it in a short message thread that everyone can see is enough.

If the account holder leaves first, ask the provider whether the account can be transferred to another housemate. Some providers allow it, subject to a credit check on the new holder. If no one wants to take the contract on, the exit cost lands with the person who signed.

It is also worth asking whether broadband is already included in your rent. If a landlord provides it, you do not need your own deal, and a fair comparison is the price you would otherwise pay.

How to pick the right contract length as a renter

1. Estimate how long you will stay. If you expect to stay at least two years, a 24-month plan is usually the cheapest per month.
2. Look at the exit cost, not only the monthly price. A plan that saves £3 a month but leaves £500 to pay if you move can cost more than a shorter plan.
3. Prefer terms that cover a move. BT’s terms on moving where it cannot supply you are a real advantage for renters, as long as you follow the process.
4. Time the order. Ordering soon after you move in gives the most months of use from the contract, but allow time for the installation appointment and landlord approval.
5. Keep the paperwork. Save your contract summary and any permission from your landlord.

Fit summary

• Good for BT Full Fibre 900 at £35.99: renters in a full fibre area who plan to stay a couple of years and want the strongest speeds and BT’s home-move terms.
• Consider Virgin Media M350 at £25.99: if Virgin’s network covers your address and you are happy to be on the hook for an early disconnection fee, or you choose its 30-day rolling option.
• Consider asking your landlord about included broadband: if bills are part of your rent.
• Consider waiting: if you may move within a few months and cannot get a rolling contract.

Important conditions

• Prices and terms are as shown on BT’s and Virgin Media’s pages when we checked on 9 October 2026 and can change for new customers.
• BT Full Fibre 900 is a 24-month contract, and its price rises on 31 March 2027 and 31 March 2028.
• BT Full Fibre 900 is available only where Openreach full fibre reaches your address.
• You need your landlord’s permission for any drilling, and the engineer may ask you to sign a permission form.
• Exit charges depend on your contract; the last column of the table is a planning figure.
• Confirm the price, speed and contract length in your basket before you pay.

Final decision card

Staying two years and in a full fibre area? BT Full Fibre 900 at £35.99 a month for 24 months.
Not sure how long you will stay? Ask about a 30-day rolling plan before you commit.
Ready to order? Get your landlord’s permission in writing first.

FAQ

Can I get broadband if I rent my home?

Yes, in most cases. If the work involves drilling or fixing equipment, Openreach says you need your landlord’s permission first. If your home already has a working connection, you may not need any new installation.

Do I need my landlord’s permission to install full fibre?

If the installation needs a hole drilled or equipment fixed to the building, yes. Openreach asks renters to get permission for any drilling inside or outside. An engineer may also ask you to sign a permission form on the day.

What happens to my broadband contract if I move out?

It depends on the provider and the contract. Many will move your service to a new home they can supply, and BT’s terms say you do not pay an early termination charge if BT cannot supply your new address and you follow its process. Virgin Media says an early disconnection fee may apply if you cancel during the minimum period, including when you move outside its network.

How long are broadband contracts for tenants?

Most deals run for 12, 18 or 24 months, and the lowest monthly prices are usually on 24-month contracts. Some providers, including Virgin Media, also offer 30-day rolling contracts. Choose the term that matches how long you expect to stay.

Who should be the account holder in a house share?

One person usually signs and is responsible for the payments and any exit charge. Agree in advance how the bill is split and what happens if that person moves out. Ask the provider whether the account can be transferred to a housemate.

Is the BT Full Fibre 900 price fixed for 24 months?

No. BT’s page shows £35.99 a month at the start, rising to £39.99 from 31 March 2027 and £43.99 from 31 March 2028. The cost over 24 months in the table includes those rises for an October 2026 start.