The renters' and students' broadband survival quiz
New flat, new housemates, new broadband. Eight questions on getting connected, sharing the speed and the rights you have if you change your mind.
If you sign up online or by phone you usually have 14 days to cancel for free. Five housemates streaming Full HD at once need about 25 Mbps for the streams, and typical contracts run for 12, 18 or 24 months.
What you will learn
- 1How much speed a shared house really needs
- 2Your 14-day cooling-off right
- 3Contract lengths and rolling monthly deals
Why it matters
Shared homes get broadband wrong in two ways: buying far more speed than five people actually use at once, or signing a long contract nobody wants to be named on. Adding up what everyone does at the busiest moment fixes the first, and checking the contract length fixes the second.
You also have more protection than you might think. Citizens Advice says you can usually cancel for free within 14 days if you signed up online or by phone, and since September 2024 your new provider handles a switch for you.
Every answer, explained
Spoilers below. Play first, then open any question to see the answer, the reason and the source.
1. You ordered broadband online, then changed your mind after 10 days. What does Citizens Advice say?
Answer: You can usually cancel for free within 14 days
You can usually cancel for free within 14 days of signing up online or by phone, though you may pay for anything you have already used.
2. Five housemates each stream a different Full HD show at once. At Netflix's 5 Mbps each, how much do the streams need?
Answer: 25 Mbps
5 times 5 is 25 Mbps. Add some headroom for Wi-Fi and phones and you are still well below most packages on sale.
3. Since September 2024, who arranges a switch when you change provider?
Answer: Your new provider
Your new provider, under One Touch Switch. You do not need to cancel the old one first.
4. What contract lengths does Ofcom say are typical?
Answer: 12, 18 or 24 months
12, 18 or 24 months. If you might move sooner, check the exit fees before you sign.
5. On a rolling monthly contract, what does Ofcom say you can usually do?
Answer: Give notice, usually a month
You can give notice, usually a month. Rolling deals cost more each month but suit short tenancies.
6. A video call home in 1080p on Zoom needs about how much upload?
Answer: 3.8 Mbps
3.8 Mbps up. On a shared connection, upload is what everyone's calls are fighting over.
7. In January 2026, full fibre take-up in Kensington and Chelsea was 19%. What was it in Hull, the highest in the UK?
Answer: 78%
78%. Hull has had its own full fibre network for years, so most homes have taken it.
Source: UK Broadband in Numbers, November 2026; Ofcom, Connected Nations update, Spring 2026
8. Your room has weak Wi-Fi. Which does Ofcom say can block the signal?
Answer: Water, metal and glass
Water, metal and glass. Brick internal walls make it harder too. A mesh system or moving the router helps.
Compare broadband
See every deal at your postcode
Every provider that reaches your address, cheapest first. It takes about ten seconds.
Questions people ask
- How much broadband speed do five housemates need?
- If all five stream Full HD at once, Netflix's figures add up to 25 Mbps for the streams. Two to three times your busiest moment gives sensible headroom.
- Can I cancel broadband I ordered online?
- Citizens Advice says you can usually cancel for free within 14 days if you signed up online or by phone, though you may pay for anything you have used.
Play next
How we checked this quiz
Every answer was checked on 9 November 2026 against the source listed with it, mostly Ofcom and the companies that publish the figures, and dated figures say when they apply. Questions that depend on a date, such as compensation amounts that rise each April, are hidden automatically once they pass their review date, so the quiz never shows an out-of-date answer. Your scores, badges and streaks are kept on this device only. Anonymous answer counts help us show how other players did, with no names or personal details.
References
- Citizens Advice. (n.d.). Cancelling a phone, TV, internet or mobile contract. Retrieved November 9, 2026. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/phone-internet-downloads-or-tv/cancelling-a-phone-tv-internet-or-mobile-contract/
- Martin-Smith, A. J. (2026, November 7). UK broadband in numbers (Edition 2, November 2026). BroadbandSwitch.uk Data Lab. https://broadbandswitch.uk/reports/uk-broadband-statistics/
- Netflix. (n.d.). Netflix-recommended internet speeds. Netflix Help Center. Retrieved November 9, 2026. https://help.netflix.com/en/node/306
- Ofcom. (2022, April 12; updated 2026, July 17). Are you in or out of contract? https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/saving-money/in-or-out
- Ofcom. (2024, February 19). Improving your wifi experience. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/improving-your-wifi-experience
- Ofcom. (2025, September 12). 1.6 million Brits hit switch on their broadband provider. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/switching-provider/1.6-million-brits-hit-switch-on-their-broadband-provider
- Ofcom. (2026, May 13). Connected Nations update: Spring 2026. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/connected-nations-update-spring-2026
- Ofcom. (n.d.). Broadband speeds code of practice. Retrieved November 9, 2026. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/broadband-speeds-code-practice
- Zoom. (n.d.). Zoom system requirements: Windows, macOS, Linux. Zoom Support. Retrieved November 9, 2026. https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0060748
We may earn a commission if you switch through BroadbandSwitch.uk. It never changes a quiz answer, a result or the order of deals. Quiz results never point to a particular provider. Spotted something we should check? Email editorial@broadbandswitch.uk and we will look at it.