How to check broadband before moving house

Coverage, package speed and your connection are different

A high coverage figure can help you shortlist an area. It cannot answer whether the flat you want is connected, whether an installation is needed or how well the Wi-Fi will work in the room where you plan to work.

Scroll sideways to see all columns.

Use the town figure for the question it can answer

Scroll sideways to see all columns.

Ofcom: January 2026. Figures come from the same Kerbside release as the linked comparison; this is an illustration, not a recommendation between the towns.

Explore the full comparison and its inclusion rules

These are shares of premises with reported availability, not average download speeds. A hypothetical 90% figure leaves 10% outside that category; it does not identify which group your chosen home belongs to. The source observation date also matters when networks are expanding.

The comparison requires at least 100 premises and an eligible published broadband source. Missing or ineligible data is not the same as no broadband. Read Kerbside’s methodology alongside the figures.

Start with the complete address, especially for flats

Use the Ofcom broadband checker, then check the provider’s own availability tool for the complete address. Ofcom’s broadband guidance recommends checking the available types and speeds when choosing a service.

If a building has several flats, make sure you select the intended unit rather than the building or a neighbouring address. If the tools disagree, ask the provider to confirm what can be ordered and what would have to happen before it works. Save that answer with the date; do not replace it with a town average.

Choose around your actual use

List what needs to work at the same time: video calls, large file uploads, streaming or several people working from home. Download speed is only part of that picture. Ask for the upload estimate as well, and identify any other requirement you need the provider to confirm.

There is no single speed recommendation here because household use differs. A higher advertised number alone does not answer questions about installation, room coverage or how quickly support would resolve a fault. Separate the broadband connection from the Wi-Fi setup inside the property.

Get the practical details before moving day

• Service: which package is orderable at the exact address, and what are its download and upload estimates?
• Timing: what activation date can the provider offer, and is an engineer visit required?
• Installation: are any works or permissions needed for this home?
• Terms: what minimum-speed commitment, contract length and charges apply to the proposed order?
• Continuity: if an interruption would prevent you working, what temporary alternative can you realistically use?

Record confirmed answers, open questions and the date checked. If the connection is a genuine non-negotiable, resolve the uncertainty before allowing a favourable town figure to settle it. The shortlisting guide explains how to keep that constraint visible alongside your other priorities.

Frequently asked questions

Continue researching your move

Start with the full guide to choosing where to live

• Flood Zone 3 versus surface-water risk
• What a town’s average house price really tells you

Data sources

Dates below distinguish the period represented by the data from when the source was collected and published here. How we use these sources