Really confused about needing landline for broadband

Catatonia

I've just moved into a new flat (renting). Hopefully I will only be here for 6 months, as I am looking for a house to buy. So, I'm reluctant to sign up for long contracts on anything.

Basically, I just want to get broadband. I'm not so bothered about a landline phone. I thought at first I was going to have to get a landline connected to BT to allow me to get cheap broadband from Tiscali/ Talktalk etc. But, I've just been passed on the BT phone number and account number from my landlord via the letting agent.

As there's a BT phone number, I assume that the LL has paid the connection fee. When I was looking into it, BT want you to sign up for 12 months after getting the line installed. So, I have a few questions:

1) If I take over the account, does that mean that I am then liable for the 12 month contract (ie if I do leave in 6 months time, will I have to pay for the remaining 6 months or will it pass back to my LL)?
2) If I just want BB, will I still have to take ownership of the landline and pay the monthly line rental, or can I just say I don't want it?
3) Would I be able to get a new landline provider, say the Post Office for example? Or would BT be able to stop me from doing this (even though I haven't signed any sort of contract with them)?

I know I can talk to BT about this, but I just want to know where I stand with things before I talk to them and agree to anything with BT.

kwikbreaks

Assuming there is no cable then you'll need a BT landline in your own name to get broadband. Companies such as the Post Office resell the BT product so it is still really a BT line and OK for broadband. Cancelling the landline will also cancel the broadband.

You'll need to check with your landlord and probably BT too about the status of your phone line.

You'll also need to try to find an ISP that will give you a free connection and less than a 12 month contract. That could be tricky and will certainly limit your choice. The alternative would be one offering a monthly contract but charging for connection (~ £50)

macman

You need to advise which exchange you are on in order to make broadband recommendations.
https://www.samknows.com

PlutoinCapricorn

What do you do when online? If it is mainly browsing and emails, as opposed to playing games and downloading films, then have you considered mobile broadband?

aerostar

plusnet has option for short contracts

billsavings

"No contract broadband with no traffic shaping.
Newnet 1 £12.95/month

If you're moving house soon, or don't want to be tied down to a 12-month contract Newnet offers monthly contracts at an extra cost. Newnet's package is £12.95 for a month by month contract though you may have to pay an exit fee of about £13.

QUICK FACTS. Speed: up to 8Mbps Download Limit: 4 GB Modem & Connection Fee Included: £39.95 if you're new to broadband but no modem. Migration Fee for switchers: Free Technical Support Phone Costs: 4p/min (Lo-call 0845) Traffic Shaping: No "

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-broadband

Catatonia

Thanks for the advice. I've looked into mobile broadband and the monthly contract, but as I want to do downloading and watch quite a lot of internet TV I've decided to suck it up and accept a 12 month contract with O" for the internet, and one with BT for my landline.

macman

Have you looked at Be broadband (same network as 02, owned by same company)? They do 3 month minimum contracts.
However, if you can get 02 with mobile discount, Quidco cashback and 3 months free, you'll pay virtually nothing for the first year anyway, so it won't matter if you have to terminate 6m early and pay the balance.