Do I need a TV licence?

Not sure if you need a TV licence? Here’s when it’s mandatory to have one:

• To watch all TV like BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and international channels
• To use pay TV services like Sky, Virgin Media and EE TV
• To watch live TV on streaming services like YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and Freely
• To watch everything on BBC iPlayer

If you have a TV licence, it’ll also cover you to watch TV outside your home, such as on your phone or laptop (something powered by its own internal battery), as long as they’re not connected at the mains or connected to an aerial.

If you’re worried about whether you need a TV licence to only watch Netflix or other streaming services like Amazon Prime and ITVX, you won’t need to buy a TV licence, as long as the programme you’re watching isn’t live or being shown on live TV at the same time, such as live sports. However, you can watch YouTube streamers live. 

The only streaming service exception is BBC iPlayer – you’ll still need a TV licence to watch any programme on this platform, whether it’s live or not.

A TV licence costs £174.50 per year (or £58.50 if you own a black-and-white TV). You might decide to pay this via Direct Debit each month or quarterly, or pay the whole amount in full. There are also other ways to pay. You can apply for a TV licence online here.

If you’re wondering if you can get a TV licence discount, this is only available if you’re in residential care, supported housing, sheltered accommodation (and meet the eligibility criteria) or are blind. You can’t get a discount if you’re partially sighted. You can apply for the severely sight impaired concession for the first time here.

If you’re over 75, you can get a free TV licence if you receive Pension Credit, or you live with a partner who receives Pension Credit. The free TV licence for pensioners covers everyone living at the home.

If your out-of-term address (such as your parents’ home) has a TV license, this will cover your room in your halls of residence, as long as you’re only watching live TV on a device such as a phone, tablet or laptop that’s not plugged into the mains. 

However, if you’re watching live TV in a communal, shared space in your halls of residence, check with the university to see if a TV licence is covered in your fees.

Living in shared accommodation such as a house after your first year of uni? Whether you need your own TV licence depends on your tenancy agreement. If you have a separate agreement for your room, you’ll need an individual licence. But, if you’re on a joint tenancy for the entire home, you’ll likely only need one licence to cover everyone, which can help save money. It’s worth checking with your student housing company or landlord first.

If you’re moving home and already have a TV licence, you can log on to your account here to change your address up to three months before you move. If you’re moving into a home where you’ll be living with someone else (such as a partner, or family member) and their TV licence will cover you, you can cancel your licence up to two weeks before you move in.

You might decide to cancel your TV licence if you don’t want to watch BBC iPlayer or live TV anymore, and instead watch streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. You can cancel your existing licence here.

If you cancel your licence and have at least one remaining month left on it, you may be eligible for a refund. You can apply for a refund here, and the TV Licensing company aims to pay refunds within 21 days.

If you don’t pay your TV licence, you could face a fine of £1,000, and TV Licensing enforcement officers could show up at your door to check if you have a licence. You can refuse entry to your home, but they could request a search warrant to check your TV.

If you’re unable to pay your TV licence, there are different ways you can get support. You can contact TV Licensing directly to see if they can change the way you pay.

We know that sometimes, this might not be enough, and you may need more support if you’re in debt. Don’t wait to seek help – find a CAP debt centre near you today to get free, FCA-accredited debt advice and financial support.