Major broadband law change benefits millions of homeowners and renters – check if you can get faster internet
MILLIONS of homeowners can now benefit from a major broadband law change.
New rules make it easier for home buyers, renters and leaseholders to upgrade to lightning-fast speeds.
The measures work to reduce the bureaucracy around upgrading domestic broadband connections to gigabit speeds - and came into force in December 2022.
Gigabit broadband is an ultra-fast connection that makes streaming videos, downloading large files, watching high definition and playing VR and other video games a breeze.
Currently, 72% of UK premises can already access a gigabit-capable network, primarily thanks to Virgin Media's upgraded network, according to ISP Review.
But the government also launched a £5billion scheme dubbed Project Gigabit to bring faster speeds to those living in rural areas back in 2021.
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And new rules set out by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will mean that all new homes in England will have to be built with gigabit broadband connections.
The change comes through the amended Building Regulations 2010 Act.
The newly introduced Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act for England and Wales now makes it easier for tenants to request upgraded broadband connections.
Previously, tenants living in the UK’s 480,000 blocks of flats and apartments would usually have had to wait for a landlord’s permission to have a broadband operator enter their building to install a faster connection.
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Now, providers in England and Wales will be able to seek rights to access a property or shared land even if the landlord is unresponsive.
The new law now prevents situations where a tenant is unable to receive a service simply due to the silence of a landlord.
Julia Lopez, digital infrastructure minister said: "Nothing should stop people from seizing the benefits of better broadband, whether it is an unresponsive landlord or a property developer’s failure to act.
"Thanks to our new laws, millions of renters will no longer be prevented from getting a broadband upgrade due to the silence of their landlord, and those moving into newly built homes can be confident they’ll have access to the fastest speeds available from the day they move in."
We've explained how you can bag the best broadband deal below.
How can I save money on my broadband and mobile contracts?
Switching contracts when yours is up is the single best way to save money on your telecom bills.
In the weeks before your contract is up, use comparison sites to familiarise yourself with what deals are available.
It's a known fact that new customers always get the best deals.
Sites like MoneySuperMarket and Uswitch all help you customise your search based on price, speed and provider.
This should make it easier to decide whether to renew your contract or move to another provider.
However, if you do not want to switch and are happy with the service you're getting under your current provider - haggle for a better deal.
You can still make significant savings by renewing your contract rather than rolling on to the tariff you're given after your deal.
You could save up to £210 a year on your bills by haggling alone.
If you need to speak to a company on the phone, be sure to catch them at the right time.
Make some time to negotiate with your provider in the morning.
This way, you have a better chance of being the first customer through on the phone, and the rep won't have worked tirelessly through previous calls which may have affected their stress levels.
It pays to be polite when getting through to someone on the phone, as representatives are less inclined to help rude or aggressive customers.
Knowing what other offers are on the market can help you to make a case for yourself to your provider.
If your provider won't haggle, you can always threaten to leave.
Companies don't want to lose customers and may come up with a last-minute offer to keep you.
Investigate social tariffs. These broadband packages and discounts have been created for people who are receiving certain benefits.
They're often available to those on income support, universal credit, or disability allowance.
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Around 4.2million households are eligible for these cheaper tariffs but only 55,000 are making use of them.
Prices start from £12 a month, so ask your provider what's on offer.