Start with the new address: check which broadband services and predicted speeds are available, then ask the provider about activation and installation before choosing equipment. If wired options are limited, consider fixed wireless access only after confirming service at the property. Try the supplied router in a suitable position before buying another router or mesh; broadband speed and Wi-Fi coverage inside the home are separate decisions.
If internet access is needed soon after arrival, establish the provider's start date, whether equipment will be sent and whether an engineer must visit. Openreach's moving-home guidance and Ofcom's switching guidance make these separate steps to confirm with the provider.
Simultaneous calls, streaming, gaming or downloads make both the available broadband service and the home's Wi-Fi setup worth assessing. Ofcom advises choosing a service for household use rather than relying on an advertised headline speed.
Several floors, thick walls or a router connection in an awkward location can make coverage a separate concern from service availability. Ofcom identifies router placement and building materials as factors affecting Wi-Fi inside a property.
Check service at the exact address and agree an activation plan before spending on Wi-Fi equipment. Where wired choices are limited, ask a fixed wireless provider about service at the property; once connected, assess the supplied router before deciding whether another router or mesh is needed.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Service at the new address | Use Ofcom's address checker, then confirm the connection type, predicted speeds and availability with a provider. | If the old home's package cannot simply be assumed to work at the new address, I need to establish which service I can order before choosing equipment. Around 31% of consumers would put address availability first. |
| Activation and installation | Ask the provider for the start date, required equipment and any engineer visit; for a flat, clarify building access. | Arriving without a working connection would disrupt my household, so I need a confirmed setup plan rather than just an order date. Move-in continuity would be the primary concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Wi-Fi across the property | Identify the connection point and rooms needing coverage; assess feasible router placement before choosing a mesh pack. | If walls or distance separate the rooms I use, a suitable broadband package alone will not answer my coverage question. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise Wi-Fi reach throughout the home. |
| Router choice and support | Confirm what the provider supplies and supports, and check the required connection setup before buying separate equipment. | I want to know whether the supplied router will meet my needs before taking on the setup of my own equipment. For around 19% of consumers, that equipment decision would come first. |
Ofcom notes that predicted service speeds may differ from what a device receives at home. A faster service therefore does not, by itself, resolve weak Wi-Fi in a distant room; equally, mesh equipment cannot increase the speed delivered by the broadband connection.
Connection types and predicted speeds vary by property, and a prediction is not a guarantee of the speed received. Ofcom's checker is a starting point for the new address.
Check that address, then confirm the available service and installation requirements with the provider before ordering.
Ofcom explains that placement and materials such as brick, metal and glass can affect Wi-Fi. Extra units may be unnecessary if the supplied router can serve the rooms you use from a better position.
Identify the connection point and high-use rooms, try a suitable central position where feasible, and choose additional coverage equipment if reach remains inadequate.
An Openreach optical network terminal, or ONT, is fixed property infrastructure that connects a fibre service to a router; it is not the previous occupant's Wi-Fi router.
Openreach says to leave its ONT, power supply and fixed cabling in place. Ask the provider what equipment is needed to activate service at the new property.
An availability result does not settle access arrangements. For its apartment Full Fibre installations, Openreach says it needs permission from the landlord, freeholder or managing agent.
Ask the provider and building contact about permission and access early, particularly if a working connection is needed at move-in.
The Deco range is a mesh option for homes considering several Wi-Fi points.
The Orbi range offers mesh equipment for households assessing coverage across several rooms.
An app-managed mesh ecosystem to consider if coverage may need expanding after moving in.
These are separate router and mesh options for assessing Wi-Fi coverage after the new address and broadband setup have been confirmed. Choose the number of Wi-Fi points for the rooms you need to serve, and check how the equipment connects to your provider's service.
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Consider several Wi-Fi points if one router cannot reach the rooms you use; this variant is listed as dual-band BE3600 with 2.5Gbps Ethernet. Check how it connects to your provider's equipment and where its units can be placed.
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For a home where one router cannot reach the required rooms, this three-pack provides multiple Wi-Fi points. Confirm the connection setup with your provider and assess where the units can go before ordering.
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For rooms that need Wi-Fi points beyond a single router, consider whether this three-pack fits the property's layout. Check its connection requirements against the chosen provider's equipment.
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A two-pack may suit a home needing a second Wi-Fi point; assess the distance and obstacles between the intended locations. Confirm the ports you need and compatibility with your provider's connection.
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For a household considering its own router, check that it connects to the chosen provider's equipment. If you need more than one Wi-Fi point, confirm the pack contents and which additional units would be compatible.
Yes: check the exact new address and contact your chosen provider once you know the move date. Ofcom's checker can show availability and predicted speeds, while the provider must confirm the order, equipment, installation steps and activation date.
Not necessarily. Ofcom says checker speeds are predictions; the connection, in-home network and simultaneous device use can affect what you receive. Compare the provider's speed information when ordering, then assess Wi-Fi coverage separately.
Only consider mesh if the supplied router cannot adequately reach the rooms you need after feasible placement changes. Ofcom notes that mesh can improve Wi-Fi coverage, while separately bought equipment adds setup decisions and may receive less provider support.
Not always: installation may still depend on access and permission. For its apartment Full Fibre process, Openreach says it needs permission from the landlord, freeholder or managing agent. Confirm the requirements and timing with the provider and building contact.
It may be an option where wired choices are limited, provided a supplier confirms service at the actual property. Ofcom says fixed wireless access uses wireless signals and that speed and reliability can vary by location, so treat predicted availability as a starting point rather than a guarantee.