TV Licence rules.

TV Licence Rules: When Do You Need a Licence?

A TV Licence is required in the UK if you watch or record television programmes live as they are being shown on any channel, television service or online streaming service. It does not matter which channel you watch, how you receive it or which device you use.

You normally need a TV Licence if you:

• Watch or record programmes live on channels such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 or Sky
• Watch live television through Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media or another television provider
• Watch live programmes on a streaming service, website or app
• Watch live news, sport, entertainment or other television broadcasts through services such as YouTube or Amazon Prime Video
• Use BBC iPlayer to watch or download any programme

The rules apply to televisions, smart TVs, desktop and laptop computers, mobile phones, tablets, streaming sticks, set-top boxes and games consoles.

One standard TV Licence will normally cover the licence holder and members of their household watching television on any number of devices at the licensed address.

Does Owning a Television Mean You Need a Licence?

You do not need a TV Licence simply because you own a television or another device capable of receiving television programmes. Whether a licence is required depends on how the equipment is used.

You can own and use a television without a licence for purposes such as:

• Watching DVDs or Blu-ray discs
• Playing video games
• Viewing photographs or home videos
• Using the television as a computer monitor
• Watching most non-BBC programmes on demand

You must not use the equipment to watch or record live television or access BBC iPlayer unless a valid licence covers the address.

What Does "Live Television" Mean?

Live television means watching or recording a programme at the same time, or approximately the same time, as it is being broadcast or made available to other viewers.

A programme does not have to be watched on a traditional television channel. A TV Licence may be required when watching a live stream through an app, website or online television service.

This can include live:

• News broadcasts
• Sporting events
• Entertainment programmes
• Reality television
• International television channels
• Programmes shown through subscription streaming services

It does not matter whether the programme is broadcast from within or outside the UK. Watching a foreign television channel live can still require a UK TV Licence.

Watching Programmes on Demand

A TV Licence is not normally required if you only watch programmes after they have been broadcast using an on-demand or catch-up service other than BBC iPlayer.

For example, you do not normally need a licence solely to watch on-demand programmes through:

• Netflix
• Disney+
• ITVX
• Channel 4
• My5
• Amazon Prime Video
• NOW
• YouTube

The exemption applies only to programmes watched on demand. If you select a live channel, live programme or live stream through one of these services, a TV Licence will normally be required.

BBC iPlayer and the TV Licence

BBC iPlayer is treated differently from other catch-up and on-demand services. You must be covered by a TV Licence to use BBC iPlayer for almost any television programme.

A licence is required to:

• Watch a BBC programme live through BBC iPlayer
• Watch a BBC programme on demand
• Catch up with a programme shown previously
• Download a programme from BBC iPlayer
• Watch BBC iPlayer on a television, computer, phone, tablet or another device

The requirement applies even if you do not watch live television on any other channel. BBC iPlayer users are normally asked to confirm that they have a TV Licence, but making that declaration does not itself purchase or create a licence.

A TV Licence is not normally required merely to listen to BBC radio through BBC Sounds or another radio service.

How Much Does a TV Licence Cost?

From 1 April 2026, a standard colour TV Licence costs £180 a year. A black-and-white television licence costs £60.50 a year.

The fee is the same regardless of:

• How many televisions or devices are used at the address
• How many people live in the household
• How often live television or BBC iPlayer is watched
• Whether the viewer mainly watches BBC or commercial channels

Payment can normally be made in full or spread through an approved payment arrangement. People who are struggling to pay should contact TV Licensing rather than continue watching without a licence.

Free and Discounted TV Licences

People Aged 75 or Over

A person aged 75 or over does not automatically receive a free TV Licence. A free licence may be available where the licence holder, or their partner living at the same address, receives Pension Credit.

An application is required. The licence does not become free simply because a resident reaches the age of 75.

Blind or Severely Sight-Impaired People

A person who is registered blind or severely sight impaired may qualify for a 50% discount. The licence will normally need to be held in the name of the person who qualifies for the reduction.

Residential Care and Supported Housing

Some residents of eligible care homes, supported housing or sheltered accommodation may qualify for a reduced-fee Accommodation for Residential Care licence. The accommodation provider will usually need to apply and confirm that the scheme's conditions are met.

Do Tenants and People in Shared Homes Need Separate Licences?

Whether one licence covers everyone in shared accommodation depends largely on the tenancy arrangements and where television is watched.

Joint Tenancy Agreements

Where all occupants have signed one joint tenancy agreement, a single TV Licence will normally cover the whole property, including viewing in individual rooms.

Separate Tenancy Agreements

Where each occupant has a separate tenancy agreement for their own room, each person who watches live television or uses BBC iPlayer in their room may need a separate TV Licence.

A licence for a shared lounge or communal area may cover viewing in that area but may not cover separately rented bedrooms.

Landlords and Tenants

A landlord is not automatically responsible for buying a TV Licence simply because a television is supplied with the property. Responsibility may depend on the tenancy agreement and the arrangements for providing television services.

Tenants should check whether an existing licence covers them rather than assuming that the landlord or another resident has purchased one.

TV Licences for Students

Students living away from home will often need a TV Licence if they watch live television or use BBC iPlayer in their university accommodation.

University Halls

A student will normally need a licence for their own room. A licence covering a communal area does not usually cover television watched in individual bedrooms.

Shared Student Houses

One licence may cover the entire house where the students occupy it under one joint tenancy agreement. Separate licences may be required where each student has an individual tenancy agreement for their own room.

Using a Licence Held at the Family Home

A student may, in limited circumstances, be covered by a TV Licence held at their permanent home address. This generally applies only when watching on a device that:

• Is powered solely by its own internal batteries
• Is not plugged into the mains. At the same time, television is being received
• Is not connected to an aerial

A student who watches. In contrast, a laptop, phone or tablet plugged into the mains at their university address will normally need a licence covering that address.

Second Homes and Holiday Properties

A TV Licence is usually issued for a particular address. A licence held for a main home does not necessarily provide unrestricted cover at a second home.

Limited cover may apply where the licence holder or members of their household use a device away from home. Still, the precise position may depend on whether the device is battery-powered and whether television is being watched at both properties simultaneously. How the second property is occupied.

Owners of second homes or holiday properties should check the licensing position for each address.

Businesses and Other Organisations

A business or organisation may need a TV Licence if staff, customers, residents or visitors watch or record live television or use BBC iPlayer on equipment installed or provided at the premises.

This can apply to:

• Offices and staff rooms
• Pubs, cafés and restaurants
• Hotels and guest accommodation
• Shops and reception areas
• Care homes
• Gyms and leisure centres
• Schools, colleges and community organisations

Special arrangements apply to hotels, guest houses and other businesses offering overnight accommodation. A single standard licence may not cover every guest room or accommodation unit.

Additional copyright permissions may also be needed when music, films, sport or television programmes are shown publicly or for the benefit of customers. A TV Licence does not replace those permissions.

What If You Do Not Need a TV Licence?

If nobody at an address watches or records live television and nobody uses BBC iPlayer, the occupier can make a No Licence Needed declaration to TV Licensing.

A declaration is not a legal requirement. Still, it may reduce correspondence asking whether the property needs a licence. TV Licensing may ask the occupier to renew or reconfirm the declaration periodically and may still visit the address to check that the circumstances are correct.

A new licence must be purchased if viewing habits later change and someone begins watching live television or using BBC iPlayer.

How Does TV Licensing Investigate?

TV Licensing uses a database containing licensed and unlicensed addresses. Its records can show whether an address has a current licence, but the absence of a licence does not prove that an offence has been committed.

An address may legitimately be unlicensed because its occupants do not watch live television or use BBC iPlayer.

Letters and Other Contact

Where an address is not shown as licensed, TV Licensing may send letters asking the occupier to:

• Buy a TV Licence
• Confirm that an existing licence covers the address
• Declare that no licence is needed
• Provide updated information about the property

Letters may continue if TV Licensing has not established why the address is unlicensed or if a previous No Licence Needed declaration has expired.

Visits by TV Licensing Officers

A visiting officer may attend an unlicensed address to establish whether a licence is required. Officers are not police officers and do not have general police powers.

The officer should identify themselves, explain why they are visiting and follow the TV Licensing visiting officer code of conduct. Occupiers can ask to see identification and may contact TV Licensing to verify the officer's identity.

Without a search warrant, a visiting officer does not normally have an automatic right to enter a home. The occupier can refuse entry or ask the officer to leave. The officer's code states that the visit should stop if the occupier asks them to leave, unless a warrant is being executed.

What Happens If Entry Is Permitted?

If the occupier voluntarily allows an officer inside, the officer may ask to inspect television-receiving equipment and determine how it is installed or used.

This could include:

• Televisions and set-top boxes
• Streaming sticks
• Computers and laptops
• Phones and tablets
• Games consoles
• Recording equipment

The officer may examine what is being displayed, how equipment is connected and whether live television or BBC iPlayer appears to have been used.

Interview Under Caution

If an officer believes or suspects that an offence has been committed, they may interview under caution. The officer should give the appropriate caution before asking questions intended to obtain evidence of an offence.

Questions may include:

• Whether live television or BBC iPlayer has been watched
• Which device or service was used
• Who was responsible for the viewing
• How long the address has been unlicensed
• Whether the person knew that a licence was required

The officer may write down the questions and answers and ask the interviewee to read and sign the record. The answers and signed statement may later be relied upon as evidence.

A person should not sign an interview record without checking it carefully. Anyone who believes the record is inaccurate or who is concerned about possible prosecution should consider obtaining legal advice.

Body-Worn Cameras

TV Licensing officers may use body-worn cameras during visits. These may record the conduct of the visit and interactions between the officer and the occupier.

Detection Equipment

TV Licensing states that detection equipment may be used in selected cases. Its published information does not provide full technical details of how every form of detection equipment operates.

The existence of receiving equipment at a property does not necessarily prove unlawful viewing. The relevant question is whether equipment has been installed or used to watch or record live television or to use BBC iPlayer without the required licence.

Search Warrants

TV Licensing may apply to a magistrate, or to a sheriff in Scotland, for a search warrant where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a television licensing offence is being committed and evidence is likely to be found at the property.

If a warrant is granted, officers may enter the property without the occupier's permission. Police officers will normally attend while the warrant is executed.

Obstructing a person who is lawfully exercising powers under a search warrant may itself result in legal consequences.

Can TV Licensing Check Internet or iPlayer Use?

Online services can retain account, device and usage information. BBC iPlayer users are also required to sign in and confirm that a TV Licence covers them.

However, the fact that an address does not have a recorded licence does not, by itself, prove that a particular person has used BBC iPlayer unlawfully. Any prosecution must be supported by evidence capable of proving the offence.

What Happens After a TV Licensing Visit?

After considering the officer's observations, any interview, records of equipment and other available evidence, TV Licensing will decide whether further action should be taken.

Possible outcomes include:

• No further action
• A request to buy a licence
• An opportunity to avoid prosecution by purchasing a licence and maintaining payments
• Further investigation
• Prosecution

Purchasing a licence after a visit does not automatically erase any earlier offence, although TV Licensing may take the purchase and continued payment into account when deciding how to proceed.

Prosecution and Penalties

Installing or using a television receiver without the required licence is a criminal offence. A person convicted of television licence evasion can receive a fine of up to £1,000, together with any applicable court costs, surcharge or compensation. The maximum fine is £2,000 in Guernsey.

The court decides the amount of any fine after considering the circumstances of the offence and the offender's financial means.

A conviction for television licence evasion does not itself carry a prison sentence. However, imprisonment may become possible if a person is later found to have wilfully refused or culpably neglected to pay a court-imposed fine.

Who Can Be Prosecuted?

The prosecution must identify the person responsible for the unlicensed installation or use of television-receiving equipment. Liability does not necessarily fall on the property owner or the person whose name appears on a tenancy agreement.

In shared accommodation, the facts may determine whether one occupant, several occupants or the person controlling communal equipment is responsible.

Moving Home, Cancelling a Licence and Refunds

A TV Licence does not automatically transfer to a new address unless the licence holder updates their details. Anyone moving home should notify TV Licensing and ensure that the licence covers the new property.

A licence may be cancelled where it is no longer needed, including where the licence holder:

• Stops watching live television and using BBC iPlayer
• Moves to an address that is already licensed
• Moves permanently abroad
• Moves into qualifying residential accommodation

A refund may be available where the licence will not be needed again before it expires and at least one complete unused month remains. Evidence may be requested to support the application.

TV Licensing Scams

Fraudsters frequently send emails, text messages and make telephone calls claiming that a TV Licence payment has failed or that an immediate refund is available.

Do not provide banking details, passwords or security information in response to an unexpected message. Check the address of the licensed property and contact TV Licensing through its official website or published telephone numbers if the communication appears suspicious.

Obtaining Legal Advice

Consider obtaining legal advice if you have been interviewed under caution, received a court notice, believe that a statement is inaccurate or are accused of watching television without a licence.

A solicitor can advise on the evidence, the legal definition of television reception, court procedure, possible defences and any personal or financial circumstances that should be placed before the court.

Disclaimer: Solicitors.com is not a firm of solicitors. Content on this site is provided for general information only and is not legal advice. It should not replace advice from a regulated solicitor who has considered the circumstances of your case. Although we aim to keep information accurate and up to date, television licensing rules and charges can change. Use of this site does not establish a solicitor-client relationship.

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