Do I need a TV licence? It’s a question we hear from those moving home in the UK on a daily basis. TV licensing sends regular reminders to homes without a licence to remind them to register for one. However, many homes in the UK don’t actually need a licence, even though they own a TV.
What is a TV licence?
A TV licence is a legal requirement for those watching broadcast TV in the UK. The majority of money raised through licence fees goes towards the BBC’s radio and TV broadcasts. Licence fees also fund Freeview TV, rolling out broadband to rural areas, local TV channels, S4C and Welsh language TV.
One licence covers all of the TVs, computers and other devices at one property. You only need one licence for each household, even if you live with housemates or share the property.
Â
Who needs a licence?
You must have a TV licence if you do any of the following at home:
- Watch or record live TV as it’s being broadcast
- Watch live TV through streaming services like ITV Player, All 4, YouTube or BBC iPlayer
- Use the BBC catch-up service BBC iPlayer to watch live or recorded programs
- Watch live sports through Sky, BT or Amazon’s digital services
Â
The licensing laws still apply if you do any of these activities on a device that isn’t a television. For example, if you stream live sports matches on a tablet or laptop you would still need a TV licence.
 You must have a licence to watch digital or cable TV, even if you also pay for a subscription to Sky, BT or Virgin Media for additional TV channels. TV licensing is entirely separate from your TV subscriptions, and no TV package will include a licence payment.Â
If you don’t use any of these services, you don’t need a licence.
Â
I just use my TV for streaming services, do I need a licence?
Provided you are not watching live TV or using BBC iPlayer, you do not need a licence to stream recorded TV programs. This is the case even if you’re using the streaming service on a TV set through a streaming stick, console or smart TV features.
You also don’t need a licence if you have a TV that you use for gaming, watching DVDs or anything else that is not tuning into a live TV broadcast.
You don’t need a TV licence to watch Netflix, Disney+ or any other streaming service.
Â
Â
How much does a TV licence cost?
A licence costs £169.50 a year. Most people choose to pay by monthly direct debit.
You can choose to pay the full £169.50 payment annually, split into quarterly payments or pay monthly. The quarterly payments will be £43.62 and will each include a £1.25 charge. If you opt for monthly payments, TV licensing will usually spread the cost of your first year over six months, billing you for £28.25 each month. After the first year, you’ll be debited £14.12 every month.
You can qualify for a free or reduced-cost licence based on your circumstances. If you are 75 years old or over and you or a partner living at your address receive pension credit, you qualify for a free licence. Otherwise, you can apply for a reduced fee if you live in a residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation, or if you are severely sight impaired.
Â
Where can I pay for my licence?
You can apply for your licence online here. The licence will come into effect at your new home immediately. If you have been watching TV without a licence, you can back date your registration to cover this period.
Â
How do I register as exempt from TV licensing?
TV licensing provides a form on their website that you can use to register as exempt from licensing. You’ll be asked to make a declaration that neither you nor anyone in your household is watching any live broadcast TV or using BBC iPlayer. This should stop TV licensing from contacting you with reminder notices, but they may still send an agent to verify the details of your declaration.
You can refuse entry to your property to any agent of TV licensing unless they bring a warrant granted by a magistrate in England or Wales or a sheriff in Scotland.
Read more about TV in the UK:
