Moving involves dozens of tasks and the internet is often one that gets easily overlooked, until suddenly it doesn't work even a day after you move in. Yet with just a few steps planned in advance, your connection will be ready for you straight away in your new home, without weeks of additional waiting.
When to terminate an old contract
Most internet contracts include a notice period, usually lasting several weeks, and if the contract is for a fixed term, early termination may incur a penalty. The first step is therefore to check your contract for two pieces of information: until when the commitment lasts and how long the notice period is. It pays to submit the notice as soon as possible after confirming your moving date, not in the last week, for many providers, the notice period only starts from delivery, not from the date you decided to leave.
It is advisable to submit the notice of termination in writing and keep proof of delivery, whether by email, data message or registered post. This prevents situations where the provider claims they never received the notice and the contract automatically extends. If you are unsure about the exact wording of the terms, simply call the customer service line and request written confirmation of the termination date.
Transfer of contract or new installation?
If you remain with the same provider after moving and the new address falls within their coverage area, it may be a straightforward transfer of your existing contract to the new location: often without a notice period and without a fresh activation from scratch. However, this only works where the provider actually operates at the new address. If you are moving outside their area, you will face standard new setup with a provider that has network coverage in the new locality, and here speed of setup matters most, as transfer is not an option and everything starts from the beginning.
Scheduling: when to order internet
The most common mistake is to order internet only after moving in. It is more sensible to start arranging the new connection once you know the exact moving date, verify availability at the new address and schedule the installation so that it takes place within the first few days after the move, or even before if you already have access to the flat or house. For quick setup, which takes a matter of days, submitting the order one to two weeks in advance is sufficient to ensure the installation follows immediately on the moving day.
How to avoid even a single day without connection
For a smooth transition, this procedure is worth following:
- Check the termination conditions of the old contract immediately after confirming the move.
- Check connection availability at the new address in advance, not after moving in.
- Arrange for installation to take place within the first few days at the new address, ideally immediately after receiving the keys.
- Give notice to terminate the old contract only when you are certain of the new date: not before, to avoid a gap on both sides.
If you know that you are moving to an area where rapid installation is available, there is no need to arrange any temporary solution weeks in advance. Simply schedule the order so that installation within four days took place exactly around the moving date.
What to do if your moving date keeps changing
The moving date is often pushed to the last minute due to flat handover, painting or waiting for keys from the new owner. If you are unsure, it makes sense to submit the connection order in advance and agree on the installation date only after confirming the exact date, not the other way round. For rapid setup handled directly with the technician rather than through a central dispatch, changing the date by a few days is usually no problem, just give notice in advance.
What to watch for in a new contract
Moving is also a good opportunity to reassess the conditions you have been operating under so far, mainly whether you want to sign a new contract with a long-term commitment. The difference between contract without a permanent employment relationship Indeed, an offer with a long-term commitment becomes particularly apparent at the moment you move again.
Summary
The key to a trouble-free transition is the order of steps: first verify availability and order the new connection, only then give notice on the old contract, taking the notice period into account. Anyone who plans this with sufficient lead time will spend at most a few hours without internet in their new home, not weeks.