In short: BT Business moving premises timescales depend on what you have: BT says simple moves can be organised in about two to three weeks, while complex moves can take up to three months. Tell BT as early as possible, check what the new address can get, and keep your numbers by moving them to cloud voice.
How much notice BT needs
BT's own guidance says simple moves can be organised within about two to three weeks, and more complex moves can take up to three months. How long yours takes depends on how many products you have, engineer appointment availability and the state of the new building.
As a rule of thumb, start the conversation as soon as you have a likely address, even before the lease is signed. Checking availability costs nothing, and finding out late that the new building has no fibre can delay a move by weeks. A leased line needs the longest notice of all (see below).
BT has a dedicated Business Movers team that co-ordinates the move, and BT says you don't need to change your Direct Debits, set up new accounts or learn new passwords when you move with it. Any charges depend on the services you need and what is already installed at the new building, so we confirm them with you before you order. If you are only moving some services, or keeping a presence at the old site for a while, tell us at the start so nothing is ceased by mistake.
Your moving checklist
- Check the new address. We check what BT can deliver there: full fibre, part fibre, SoGEA or a leased line.
- List every service. Broadband, phone lines, numbers, static IPs, alarms, card terminals, door entry and anything else that uses a line.
- Decide what to upgrade. Moving is a natural point to switch to full fibre, cloud voice or a leased line.
- Plan the numbers. Decide which numbers move with you and which can be dropped.
- Book the dates. Install at the new site before you move in, if you can, so the connection is ready on day one.
- Arrange cover for the gap. 4G backup or mobile hotspots keep you working if the new line isn't ready.
- Close the old site. Cease the old services once the new ones are live, and return any rented equipment.
Use the move to upgrade to full fibre
If the new building has full fibre (FTTP), BT offers speeds of up to 900Mbps, which is a big step up for many offices still on part fibre. Because traditional phone lines are being withdrawn ahead of the PSTN closing by 31 January 2027, there is little point moving an analogue line to a new address only to replace it months later.
See BT business full fibre and the packages page. If FTTP isn't available yet, SoGEA gives you broadband without a separate phone line.
Before you order, we check how any remaining minimum term on your current contracts is treated when you move, so you know where you stand on early termination charges.
Keep your phone numbers with cloud voice
With a traditional phone line, your number is tied to the local exchange, so moving to a different area can mean losing it. Cloud phone systems remove that link: your numbers live in the cloud and ring wherever your phones are connected.
If you move to BT Cloud Voice before or during the move, your team can keep working from home or mobiles on move day, and the phones simply work again when they are plugged in at the new office. See BT Cloud Voice numbers and porting on cloudvoice.cloud. For smaller teams, BT Cloud Phone or a digital phone line may be enough.
Moving a leased line
A BTnet or Ethernet circuit can't simply be moved: the new building needs its own circuit. That means a site survey, possibly landlord permission (a wayleave) and sometimes construction work, with any excess construction charges confirmed after survey.
Leased line lead times are longer than broadband and are only confirmed once the survey is done, so this is the one service to order first. Our leased line installation guide walks through every stage. If the circuit won't be ready on move day, we can put 4G backup or broadband in place as an interim connection.
Moving several sites
Relocating more than one office, opening a new branch while closing another, or consolidating sites into one building all affect each other. We manage multi-site moves as one project, with a single timeline for every address, and look at whether the new layout would suit a different design, such as BTnet at a new head office and broadband at branches. See multi-site connectivity.
Contact us with your new address and move date, and we will check availability and plan the move with you.
Why buy BT through Forever Communications
Forever Communications Ltd is a BT Business Partner, supplying BT Business connectivity, voice and mobile services to UK organisations. You get BT's network with a named team who knows your account.
- Impartial advice on the right BT product for each site, from Essential, Enhanced, Pro and Ultra business broadband to BTnet and BT Ethernet
- One point of contact for availability checks, orders, installations, moves, upgrades, faults and renewals
- Ready for the PSTN switch-off: digital phone lines, SoGEA, BT Cloud Voice, BT Cloud Phone and Digital Voice for Business, with your numbers kept where possible
- Multi-site and sector know-how for schools, GP surgeries, retailers, hospitality venues and growing offices
- Mobile and security too: EE Business mobiles from BT Group, Hybrid Backup on the EE Business 4G network, and BT security options alongside our wider Cyber Essentials help
We sell to businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations. We do not sell consumer or home products.
Want a BT Business quote for your sites?
Tell Forever Communications what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
How much notice does BT Business need to move premises?
BT says simple moves can be organised in about two to three weeks, and complex moves can take up to three months. Leased lines need the most notice, so tell us as soon as you have a likely address.
Can I keep my business phone number when I move?
Often, yes. If you move outside your local exchange area, a traditional line may not keep its number, but moving your numbers to a cloud phone system such as BT Cloud Voice lets you keep them wherever you go.
Can I move my BT business broadband to a new address?
Yes. BT will close the service at the old site and provide it at the new one, but what you can get depends on the new address, so check availability first. A move is also a good time to upgrade to full fibre.
What if my new office has no full fibre?
You can usually get part fibre or SoGEA broadband instead, add Hybrid Backup on 4G, or consider a BTnet leased line if you need guaranteed bandwidth.
Can I move a leased line to new premises?
Not directly. The new premises need a new circuit, which involves a survey and sometimes construction work, so order it first. We can arrange an interim 4G or broadband connection if needed.