Broadband mid-contract price rises: what Ofcom's 2025 rules actually changed
Providers can no longer bury an inflation-linked hike in the small print. Here is what the new pounds-and-pence rule means for your bill.
Until 2025 most UK broadband contracts said the price would rise every April by CPI + 3.9% (or similar). Nobody could work out what that actually meant when they signed. Ofcom changed the rules.
The new rule in one line
Any in-contract price rise must now be shown in pounds and pence, at the point of sale, before you sign. No more percentages linked to a future inflation figure.
What that looks like in practice
You now typically see something like: 'Your monthly price is £27.99. It will rise by £3 in April 2027 and by £3 in April 2028.' Add the full-contract cost yourself, or use a comparison site (like this one) that does it for you.
Why the headline price on other sites is misleading
A 24-month contract at £24/month with a £3 hike after 12 months is not £576 total — it's £24 × 12 + £27 × 12 = £612, plus any setup fee, minus any cashback. That's how Cheqr ranks: cheapest true total, not cheapest month-one.
Can you leave if the price goes up?
Only if the rise wasn't disclosed at sign-up. Under the new rules almost every provider now discloses it upfront, which means you're locked in for the full term. Read the pounds-and-pence figure before you sign, not after.
Social tariffs — the bit providers don't advertise
If anyone in your household receives Universal Credit, Pension Credit, ESA, JSA or Income Support, you're eligible for a social tariff — typically £12–£20/month for full-fibre. BT, Sky, Virgin, Vodafone, TalkTalk and others all offer one. They don't push them, so you have to ask.
Compare it yourself
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