Broadband for new builds
Most new homes in England built since 26 December 2022 come with full-fibre-ready infrastructure by law, so getting connected is usually straightforward. The one catch is timing: the network sometimes goes live a little after you move in, while the address is added to ordering systems. Here is how ordering works, why a short wait can happen, and how to stay online from day one.
- New homes in England since December 2022 are built gigabit-ready under Building Regulations Part R.
- The developer installs the infrastructure. You choose and order the actual service.
- A short delay after move-in is normal while the address reaches ordering systems.
- A 4G or 5G deal keeps you online from day one with no engineer.
Are new builds built for full fibre?
Yes, and by law. Under Building Regulations Part R, new homes in England built since 26 December 2022 must be constructed with gigabit-ready physical infrastructure and, in most cases, a gigabit-capable connection, subject to a £2,000 per-dwelling cost cap (GOV.UK, 2022). In plain terms, the developer puts in the ducting and, usually, the fibre, so your home is designed for the fastest connections from the start. What the developer does not do is choose your provider. The infrastructure is there, and the service is yours to pick.
Which network serves your new build
Developers partner with one or more networks to wire a site, so the first useful question is simply which network has been installed at yours. It might be Openreach, which a wide range of providers sell over, Virgin Media or nexfibre, or a network that works closely with housebuilders such as Hyperoptic. Your developer or site sales office can tell you who has built to the estate, which then tells you which providers you can choose from.
How ordering works
There is a natural sequence between a home being finished and broadband being orderable, and knowing it saves a lot of head-scratching.
Once your address is recognised and the network has commissioned the street, you order in the normal way: pick a deal, place the order, and book activation. Where the fibre is already live to the home, switch-on can be quick.
Why it might not be orderable on day one
If a checker says your new address cannot order yet, it is rarely a fault and almost never permanent. Usually the address has not yet appeared in the ordering and postcode systems, or the network has not finished commissioning the street. This is common enough that we have a dedicated guide to it: new-build broadband delays explains exactly why it happens and how to speed it up.
Staying online from day one
You do not have to wait offline for a fixed line. A 4G or 5G home broadband deal, or a mobile hotspot, gets you online immediately with no engineer, and you simply retire it once your fibre is ready. See our guides to 4G and 5G broadband deals and using mobile broadband as a temporary backup.
Renting a new build
If you are renting a new-build home, you can order broadband in your own name once the address is live, just as any renter would. Our broadband for renters guide covers permission and flexible contracts, and the sub-guide on broadband in a new-build home has renter-specific tips.
Check your exact plot
New-build addresses can be fiddly, since a plot number during construction is not always the postal address you end up with. Check the final postal address on the postcode comparison tool, and once you are connected, confirm you are getting the speed you expect on Pulse, our speed test. Planning the move itself? Our moving home broadband guide ties it all together.
New-build broadband FAQs
Do new-build homes come with fibre broadband?
New homes in England built since 26 December 2022 must be built with gigabit-ready infrastructure and, in most cases, a gigabit-capable connection under Building Regulations Part R. The developer installs it; you choose the provider.
Why can I not order broadband at my new-build address?
Usually because the address has not yet appeared in ordering and postcode systems, or the network has not finished commissioning the street. It is normally weeks, not months, and there are steps to speed it up.
Who decides which broadband provider I can use in a new build?
The developer chooses which network is installed at the site, and that determines your choice of providers. Ask the developer or sales office which network has been built to the estate.
How do I get online on the day I move into a new build?
A 4G or 5G home broadband deal or a mobile hotspot gets you online immediately with no engineer, and you can retire it once your fixed line is ready.
Is the developer responsible for connecting my broadband?
The developer installs the physical infrastructure to the home. Activating a service is down to you: you pick a provider and place an order once the address is live.
Does Part R mean my new home already has fibre plugged in?
Not always plugged in, but built ready. Part R requires gigabit-ready ducting to the home and, in most cases, a gigabit-capable connection, so the route for fibre is there even if you still place the order yourself.
Related guides
References
- GOV.UK. (2022). New build connectivity: information for developers. [The Building etc. (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2022 came into force on 26 December 2022; developers must install gigabit-ready infrastructure and a gigabit-capable connection subject to a £2,000 per-dwelling cost cap; new homes in England]. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-build-connectivity-information-for-developers
- Royal Mail. (n.d.). Postcode Address File (PAF). [New addresses are added to the PAF before many broadband ordering systems recognise them; United Kingdom]. https://www.royalmail.com/business/services/marketing/data-optimisation/paf
Written by Adrian James, Broadband Editor, and reviewed by Dr Alex J. Martin-Smith. We update this guide as rules and deals change. BroadbandSwitch.uk is an independent UK comparison service and does not charge readers to use it. Figures are attributed to named sources with the date and scope shown above.