Broadband and other utility switching searches skyrocket as home movers look for better value

  • Searches to switch broadband suppliers have increased 113% since the property market reopened for business.
  • Other search terms such as ‘changing address’, ‘self-storage’ and ‘energy provider’ have also increased notably.
  • ‘Broadband’ and ‘estate agent’ are the highest-ranking searches in terms of interest

Previous data from home setup service Just Move In found that since the property market reopened in May, the number of people moving home has increased by 29%. Their latest market analysis highlights the importance of utility providers during this process and how estate agents can add value in the current climate by considering this aspect of moving home.

Just Move In analysed several key search terms around moving house both since the property market opened on the 13th May and during the period of lockdown seen before this. The research looked at the highest scoring in terms of overall interest and which had seen the most significant increase in search volumes since the property industry lockdown was eased.

Biggest increases

With many of us now reliant on our home broadband to power our professional lives as well, it comes as no surprise that ‘broadband switch’ has seen a 113% increase in search volume since the property market reopened.

‘Changing address’ and ‘self-storage’ were also some of the search terms with the highest uplift, increasing 106% and 102% respectively.

‘Energy provider’, ‘home insurance’, ‘home removal’, ‘energy switch’ and ‘tv license’ had also seen some of the largest increases in search volume.

Highest overall interest

When comparing search term volumes between the initial period of lockdown and the period since the property market reopened for business, the term ‘estate agents’ has only seen a 27% increase.

However, it remains one of the most robust searches in terms of overall interest in the UK. With an average interest score of 80, only the search term ‘broadband’ scores higher (83).

‘Council tax’, ‘home removal’, ‘energy switch’, ‘broadband switch’ and ‘energy provider’ are also amongst some of the highest-ranking search terms where the average interest score is concerned.

Top 10 largest increases in search term volume
United Kingdom
Search Term
Change (%)
Broadband Switch
113%
Change of address
106%
Self-Storage
102%
Energy provider
99%
Home Insurance
92%
Home Removal
89%
Energy Switch
83%
TV License
78%
Broadband
39%
Council Tax
34%
Change relates to the search term volume increase between 24/03/2020 – 12/05/2020 and 13/05/2020 – 27/06/2020.
Top 10 highest scoring search terms for average interest
United Kingdom
Search Term
UK Average Interest Score
Broadband
83
Estate Agent
80
Council Tax
60
Home Removal
58
Energy Switch
49
Broadband Switch
25
Energy Provider
18
Home Insurance
18
Moving Home
13
Television
12
Average Interest Score relates to search term interest between 01/01/2020 and 27/06/2020.

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

UK house prices growing by 2.5% according to Halifax

Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark: “This slight dip in house prices will likely have been influenced as a direct consequence to the current state of the global economy. There will always be a need for people to move house regardless of international trading relations; however, many aspiring or current homeowners will no doubt be discouraged…
Read More
Breaking News

UK house prices dip slightly in May, but market remains steady

Average property price now £296,648 compared to £297,798 last month Annual rate of growth slows to +2.5% from +3.2% in April Overall house prices have remained stable so far this year Northern Ireland continues to lead annual price growth in the UK Amanda Bryden, Head of Mortgages, Halifax, said: “Average UK house prices fell by…
Read More
Breaking News

Estate Agent Content

Do you think that your estate agency / property business requires content? Is content marketing still a thing in 2025? Are you concerned if anyone will read your words? Is it worth investing in estate agent content? Businesses with blogs generate 67% more leads than those without. As competition for attention online increases it remains…
Read More
Breaking News

The cost of voids rises by £200 for England’s landlords

The latest analysis by Dwelly, one of the UK’s leading lettings acquisition and success planning experts, has found that landlords have been hit with a 26% increase in the cost of void periods in the past year, equivalent to lost income of almost £200. Dwelly analysed average void period data from March 2024 and March…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 5/06/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X. Demand Rises for Housing and Infrastructure Projects Rising demand for housing, infrastructure and energy projects across Wales has driven continued growth at Lichfields’ Cardiff office, which this year marks 25 years in the capital. The team of 17 planning professionals is one of the largest…
Read More
Breaking News

Construction continues to enjoy a season in the sun

Underlying performance is on the rise during Q.2 2025 Today, Glenigan, one of the construction industry’s leading insight experts, releases the June 2025 edition of its Construction Index. The Index focuses on the three months to the end of May 2025, covering all underlying projects, with a total value of £100m or less (unless otherwise…
Read More