When does my broadband contract end? How to find out and what to do

When does my broadband contract end? The quickest way to find out is to log in to your provider's app or online account, where the end date of your minimum term is usually shown, or simply ask the provider. Under Ofcom rules, your provider must also tell you by text, email or letter between 10 and 40 days before your contract comes to an end, including what you'll pay afterwards and its best deals. If you're already past that date, you're out of contract, and your provider must remind you every year and update you on its best deals.

If this is your first flat and your first broadband deal in your own name, that date matters more than it looks. Contracts often tie you in for a set period, and what happens to the price after that is something you want to know in advance, not discover on a bill. Here's how to find the date, what the rules say and what to do with the weeks before it.

When does my broadband contract end? Where to find the date

Try these in order. One of them will almost always give you the answer within a few minutes.

1. Your provider's app or online account. Look for "my contract", "my package" or "account details". Many providers show the end date or the months remaining on the home screen.
2. Your latest bill. Some bills list the contract end date or the length of your minimum term.
3. Your welcome email or contract summary. When you signed up, you'll have been sent a summary of the deal. Search your inbox for the provider's name with words like "order confirmation", "contract" or "welcome".
4. Ask the provider. A quick message through their online chat, or a call, will get you the exact date. Ofcom's own advice is to ask your provider if you're not sure whether you're still in contract.

If you only know when the service started, you can work it out roughly: Ofcom says phone, broadband and pay TV contracts are typically 12, 18 or 24 months. But don't rely on your own maths for anything important, because the minimum term may not have started on the day you ordered, and changing package can mean a new contract. Get the exact date from the provider.

What your provider has to tell you

Ofcom has rules for this, so you shouldn't be left guessing. According to Ofcom, your provider must send you an end-of-contract notification by text, email or letter between 10 and 40 days before your contract ends. It has to include:

• when your contract ends
• any notice period for leaving
• the price you've been paying and what you'll pay once the contract is up
• the provider's best deals, including any prices only available to new customers
• details of any other contracts in your bundle, with their end dates

If you're already out of contract, your provider must remind you every year and update you on its best deals.

Two practical points. First, these notices are easy to miss, especially if they go to an email address you rarely check or arrive as a text you swipe away. Second, the notice tells you the date, but it doesn't make the decision for you. Treat it as a prompt, not a reminder you can rely on. Check the current rules on the Ofcom website, as they can change.

In contract or out: what it means for you

Once you know the date, you'll be in one of three positions.

More than 40 days to go

You're in contract. Leaving early may mean paying an early termination charge (Ofcom calls it an exit fee), so check your terms before you make any moves. For now, just note the date and set a reminder about six weeks before it.

Within the last few weeks

This is the window that counts. Your end-of-contract notification should arrive around now, if it hasn't already. Use the time to:

• check what the price will be once the contract ends
• look at what you actually use: speeds, data, landline, TV add-ons
• compare deals, including your own provider's offers for existing customers
• decide whether to stay, move to a new deal with the same provider or switch

Already past the end date

You're out of contract, which gives you the most freedom. Ofcom notes that if you're out of contract you can shop around and could save money by switching. You may still have a notice period, so check how much notice your provider needs.

Switching broadband: what's changed

Since September 2024, switching home broadband and landline providers has been simpler. Ofcom says you only need to contact your chosen new provider to make the change, and they handle it with your old one. You don't have to pay notice-period charges beyond the switch date.

Before you switch, it's still worth:

• checking whether you're out of contract, or what leaving early would involve
• confirming what speed and services are available at your address with the new provider
• noting the switch date, and making sure there's no gap if you work from home
• keeping your old provider's final bill until you're sure everything has closed off properly

A simple plan for people setting up on their own

If this is your first broadband contract, set yourself up properly once and you won't have to think about it again until the next end date.

1. Write down the essentials. Provider, account number, monthly price now, contract start and end dates, and how much notice you need to give.
2. Set a reminder about six weeks before the end date. That gives you time to compare before Ofcom's notification even arrives, and a cushion if it's late or lands in spam.
3. Save the welcome email or contract summary somewhere you can find it. A folder in your email called "home" is enough.
4. Check the email address your provider has. If it's an old one you rarely open, change it, so the notification actually reaches you.
5. Note it on your bills list. Broadband is one of the regular costs of running a home alongside rent, energy and council tax. Our guide on how to keep track of household bills shows a simple way to keep them all together.

If you're moving house, check what your contract says about moving before you give notice on your flat. Some providers can move your service with you; others may treat it differently. Ask them early.

Mistakes to avoid

• Assuming the price stays the same. The end-of-contract notification has to tell you what you'll pay after the contract ends. Read that line.
• Waiting for the provider's notice. It's an Ofcom rule, but your own reminder is the one that's guaranteed to land at the right time.
• Signing up again without comparing. Sometimes staying is the right call, but make it a choice.
• Forgetting the rest of the bundle. If your broadband comes with TV or a phone line, those parts may have their own end dates.
• Losing track of your other contracts. Your phone contract, insurance and memberships all have dates too. Our guide on how to keep track of renewal dates covers the lot.

Keeping the date in mylife/

If you'd rather not keep the date in your head, mylife/ keeps contracts and renewals in its ledgers, each with its date and how often it repeats, and gives you a nudge before each one so there's time to compare, switch or cancel. A morning note can flag a renewal coming up in a couple of weeks. You can show Slash, your mate, a photo or PDF of your contract summary and it fills in the details for you to check before anything is saved. You can try mylife/ free for 3 days to see if it suits your first place.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if I'm still in my broadband contract?

Log in to your provider's app or online account, check your latest bill, or ask the provider directly. Ofcom's advice is to ask your provider if you're unsure. If you're within the last 40 days, you should also receive an end-of-contract notification.

Will my broadband provider tell me when my contract ends?

Yes. Under Ofcom rules, providers must tell you by text, email or letter between 10 and 40 days before your contract ends. The notice must include the end date, any notice period, the price you'll pay afterwards and the provider's best deals.

What happens when my broadband contract ends?

Your service usually carries on, but you're now out of contract and free to shop around. The price you'll pay afterwards should be shown in your end-of-contract notification. If you stay out of contract, your provider must remind you every year and update you on its best deals.

Can I leave my broadband contract early?

Usually, but you may have to pay an early termination charge, also called an exit fee. Check your contract terms or ask your provider how much it would be before you decide.

Do I need to tell my old provider if I switch broadband?

For home broadband and landline switches, Ofcom says you only need to contact your new provider, who arranges the switch. You won't pay notice-period charges beyond the switch date.