UK broadband contracts now split into two price-rise tracks: fixed pounds-and-pence rises on deals from 17 January 2025, and legacy CPI/RPI formulas on older contracts. You can only leave penalty-free if the rise was not stated in your contract summary, except Sky/NOW which must offer a 30-day exit on any rise. Updated 3 June 2026.
Consumer help · Updated 3 June 2026
Mid-contract broadband price-rise rights
Plain-English guide to why UK broadband bills rise mid-contract, which rule set applies to your sign-up date, when you can leave penalty-free, and how the Sky/NOW exception works.
Why did my broadband go up mid-contract?
Most major UK providers increase prices once a year, usually in April, even while you are still in your minimum term. From April 2026 that increase is a fixed amount (for example £3 to £4 per month) on contracts taken or renewed from 17 January 2025, because Ofcom banned inflation-linked percentage rises on those newer deals (Ofcom, July 2024). Older contracts may still use a CPI or RPI formula instead.
Am I on the old or new price-rise rules?
Check your contract start date and your contract summary (the document you received before you signed).
- New track (from 17 Jan 2025): your summary should show the exact pounds-and-pence rise (for example "£4.00 per month each April").
- Legacy track (before 17 Jan 2025): your summary may refer to CPI + a margin (BT/Plusnet +3.9%, TalkTalk +3.7%) or RPI (Virgin Media).
- Sky and NOW: they do not state a future rise in the contract, which triggers different exit rights (see below).
See the dated provider table on our Mid-Contract Price-Rise Tracker.
Can I cancel my broadband if the price goes up?
Do not assume you can always leave on a price rise. The exit position depends on what was shown when you signed:
- Rise stated in pounds and pence at sign-up (post-17 Jan 2025 fixed track): you agreed to that increase. You cannot leave penalty-free just because the rise is applied.
- Rise not stated in pounds and pence at sign-up (legacy inflation track or unclear wording): you have 30 days to exit penalty-free from when the provider tells you about the rise.
- Sky and NOW exception: because they do not state future rises in the contract, they must offer a 30-day penalty-free exit when any mid-contract rise is applied, even on newer contracts.
- Speed-based exit (separate right): if your download speed stays below the minimum guaranteed speed in your contract for 30 days after you report it, you can leave penalty-free under Ofcom's Broadband Speeds Code of Practice.
What will the 2026 rise be for my provider?
For fixed-track contracts effective April 2026: BT/EE/Plusnet and Virgin Media £4/month; Sky £3/month; Vodafone £3.50/month on contracts from 12 November 2025 (earlier fixed-track Vodafone contracts: £3/month); TalkTalk £4/month on contracts from 16 November 2025 (earlier fixed-track: £3/month). Legacy contracts use CPI or RPI percentages instead; use our calculator for an estimate.
Sources: Ofcom (2024) statement on inflation-linked rises; provider price-change pages as of April 2026 provider rises. Always confirm against your contract summary.
Related pages
See the 2026 in-contract price-rise table and how to switch broadband in the UK on BroadbandSwitch.uk.