We don’t need to tell you how important having an internet connection is. It’s on par with gas, water and electricity and is typically non-negotiable when choosing a place to live. But what if there is no broadband connection in your student house? That’s what we’re tackling today. Some common questions we hear on the subject of student broadband.

What is student broadband?
Student broadband is the same broadband as everyone else gets, just with a shorter contract. Given the nature of being a student, it isn’t practical to keep you within a 24-month contract like everyone else.

Therefore, you get 9 or 12-month contracts instead. The 9-month contract is designed for students who go home for the holidays while the 12-month contract covers you all year. To start shopping for a broadband contract, enter the postcode into a broadband checker. Using a comparison site will allow you to filter or sort my contract length.

There are 30-day contracts too but they can be more expensive.

Is broadband our responsibility or the landlords?
It depends where you’re staying. If you’re in private rented accommodation, it’s your collective responsibility.

If you’re living in private halls or other commercial buildings, it is usually the landlord that takes care of broadband and adds the cost to your rent.

I can’t find any specific student deals, what are the alternatives?
If you cannot find student broadband deals for your address, you have a couple of options:

Short term contracts – 30-day contracts don’t have a fee for cancellation, but setup and running costs are usually more expensive.

Mobile broadband – if you have a good enough 4G or 5G signal and can get an unlimited data plan, this could work.

What broadband speed do we need?
The speed you need depends on how many of you will be using it and how you will be using it.

If you’re connecting a large house with lots of you in it, you’ll need fast broadband to keep everyone connected.

If you’re in a flat or smaller house with just a couple of students, you don’t need such fast speeds.

What is a reasonable price?
A reasonable price is tough to pin down as they change all the time. The best way to come up with a reasonable price is to check what’s available in your area and compare speeds, data caps and prices.

Very broadly, you can find plenty of fibre optic broadband deals with speeds of around 35Mb-65Mb for less than £30 per month. If you want a faster connection with speeds of 100Mb+, you’re probably going to be paying £30+.

The cheapest won’t always be the best option. What you need is the cheapest broadband that offers everything you need.

Don’t be blinded by freebies either. Some broadband providers will bundle TV into broadband, which makes it harder to assess value. Others will offer gift cards, free gifts or some other incentive.

Look at the deal dispassionately. Compare the price of the contract with the competition and the price of the gift card or free gift.

Is there likely to be a setup fee?
Some broadband deals may have a set-up fee, some don’t. Shop around and if your chosen deal does have a setup fee, call them and point out their closest competitor doesn’t.

They may waive the fee, they may not, but at least you tried!

 

What if the installation date isn’t for weeks after we move in?
There will be a delay between signing the broadband contract and having it installed. That’s just the way it is, unfortunately.

The key is in the timing. Sign up to a broadband contract as soon as you have a firm moving in date, preferably at least 14 days beforehand. It would be better with 28 days’ notice, but two weeks is better than nothing.

That way, you should be able to book an engineer visit (if one is necessary) closer to moving in day.

If there is going to be a delay, tether your smartphone to provide at least a basic connection while you wait.

Keep an eye on your data use though!

Our broadband needs a line installed, is that ok?
Most houses within the UK have a line already, but if yours doesn’t, make sure you get permission in writing from the landlord for it.

Broadband installation requires a hole to be drilled into the wall and a wall box fitted inside and out.

Not many landlords would make a fuss over this, but some might so it’s worth getting that permission so you don’t lose your deposit.

Do I need to pass a credit check?
Most broadband contracts do require a credit check but it’s more to verify your identity than your creditworthiness. Few people would ever fail a broadband credit check so you should be fine.

What’s the best way to split the bill?
Most students we know split broadband the same way they split other bills. One person is responsible for paying the bill and everyone else pays them each month.

You can manage this informally, as part of a contract or use one of the many bill splitting apps out there. As long as it gets paid, how you come up with the money is up to you!