Do Not Sign Until the Fibre Does: A Connectivity Due-Diligence Checklist for Office Moves
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Moving office is a property decision, but it is also a connectivity decision. A UK SME can sign a lease, order furniture and plan the move only to discover that the new site has no suitable fibre, the landlord has not granted a wayleave, or the current broadband contract requires three months' notice. The business then opens with mobile hotspots and a temporary phone diversion. Sometimes that is unavoidable; often it is the result of questions asked too late.
This checklist is for the period before signature. It uses a simple score: 0 for not confirmed, 1 for partially confirmed or dependent on a third party, 2 for confirmed in writing. A total below 18 out of 30 should be treated as a warning. It is not a legal or technical survey, but it gives owners and finance directors a structured conversation with landlords, suppliers and IT support.
1. Address and infrastructure readiness
Ask the landlord or letting agent for the building's connectivity history. Which providers serve the building? Is there a fibre-enabled cabinet nearby? What is the current broadband technology at the premises: FTTP, FTTC, SoGEA, leased line or something else? If the answer is 'we think it has broadband', score zero.
Check the postcode on Ofcom's broadband checker and, where available, the Openreach fibre availability checker. These are indicative, not a guarantee. For a leased line, ask for a site survey and a delivery date in writing. Lead times for new fibre can run from several weeks to several months; a landlord's promise that 'fibre is coming' is not a delivery date.
Score: 0-2 for confirmed technology, 0-2 for provider availability, 0-2 for written lead time.
2. Wayleaves, landlord consent and building works
A wayleave is permission to install and maintain cabling across land or property. In multi-tenant buildings, the landlord or managing agent may need to approve cabling, roof access or a new entry point. Ask who owns the building, who manages it and whether a standard wayleave process exists. Confirm whether the landlord will sign a wayleave before the lease starts.
Also ask about existing cabling, comms rooms, power and access hours. A supplier may need lift access, parking or out-of-hours working. If the building is listed or in a conservation area, external cabling may need consent. These are governance issues as much as technical ones.
Score: 0-2 for wayleave route, 0-2 for landlord consent, 0-2 for access and works.
3. Current contract exit and notice periods
Review every current connectivity and telephony contract before committing to a move. Check the minimum term, notice period, early termination charge and whether the contract covers the old address only. Notice periods are often 30 to 90 days, but they vary. Diarise the last safe cancellation date.
Ask whether the provider can transfer the service to the new address. A house move for a consumer is not the same as a business relocation. Business broadband and leased lines may need a new installation and a new contract. If the old site will be vacant before the new one is live, plan for overlap.
Score: 0-2 for notice dates, 0-2 for exit costs, 0-2 for transfer options.
4. Number porting and VoIP readiness
If the business uses geographic phone numbers, check whether they can be ported to the new site or to a cloud telephony provider. Number porting can take days or weeks and may require a letter of authority. Confirm which numbers are critical for customers and whether they are tied to a specific exchange or contract.
For VoIP, test the new site's internet quality, not just speed. Voice needs low latency, low jitter and stable upload. Ask for a connection that supports quality of service or a dedicated voice line if the business relies on calls. Confirm power backup for network equipment and emergency call arrangements.
Score: 0-2 for number portability, 0-2 for VoIP quality, 0-2 for emergency call plan.
5. Contingency and cutover
Even a well-planned move can slip. Identify a contingency connection: a 4G or 5G router with a business data plan, a temporary office, or a dual-WAN arrangement. Confirm who will configure it and how staff will connect. Plan the cutover date with the supplier, not around it. Keep the old service active until the new one has been tested.
Score: 0-2 for backup connection, 0-2 for cutover plan, 0-2 for tested failover.
Scored checklist summary
| Area | Question | Score (0-2) |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | Is the available technology confirmed in writing? | |
| Infrastructure | Is a provider available with a written lead time? | |
| Wayleave | Is the landlord wayleave route confirmed? | |
| Wayleave | Are access and building works approved? | |
| Contracts | Are notice and termination dates diarised? | |
| Contracts | Is transfer or new installation priced? | |
| Telephony | Can critical numbers be ported? | |
| Telephony | Is VoIP quality and emergency calling covered? | |
| Contingency | Is a backup connection specified? | |
| Contingency | Is the cutover plan tested? |
A score of 18 or more is a reasonable position, provided the remaining gaps have owners and dates. A score below 12 means the move carries a material operational risk. The lease may still be right, but the business should budget for temporary connectivity and negotiate more time before handover.
Before signature
Put the connectivity findings in the board pack or lease decision note. Ask the landlord to confirm wayleave and access in the agreement, not in a side conversation. Give the IT support provider or managed service partner the checklist before the legal completion date. Most importantly, do not treat broadband as a utility that switches on like water. In a UK office move, connectivity is a project with dependencies, and the cheapest moment to discover a problem is before the lease is signed.
