Watching any type of live TV - whether that's over Freeview, on a pay TV service like Sky or Virgin Media, or streamed online - still requires a valid UK TV licence. You also need a licence to watch programmes on BBC iPlayer, even if you're only using catch-up.
A standard colour TV licence costs £174.50 per year. A black-and-white licence costs £58.50. Most people spread the cost via Direct Debit, which works out at around £14.54 per month.
Those aged 75 or over who receive Pension Credit can apply for a free TV licence, and people who are registered blind (severely sight-impaired) may be eligible for a 50% discount. There are also reduced licence options for people in certain types of supported accommodation.
How does the TV licensing work?
Anyone who watches or records live TV - whether on free-to-air channels or premium pay TV services - or who uses BBC iPlayer, needs a valid UK TV licence.
In practice, you need a TV licence if you:
- Watch or record live TV on any channel or service, including Sky TV, Virgin Media, Amazon Prime Video, ITVX, Channel 4, live YouTube broadcasts, or free-to-air channels on Freeview or Freesat
- Watch or stream any programmes on BBC iPlayer, even if you're only using catch-up and even on a phone, tablet or laptop
A standard colour TV licence currently costs £174.50 per year. This can be paid as a single annual payment or spread across monthly or quarterly Direct Debit instalments.
A TV licence usually covers an entire household at a single address. However, there are situations - such as people living in shared accommodation or students in halls - where individuals may need their own licence, which we explain in more detail below.
If you no longer watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer - for example, if you only use on-demand services like Netflix or Disney+ - you can cancel your licence and apply for a refund for any unused months via the TV Licensing website.
Who needs a TV licence?
In most households, a single TV licence covers everyone living at the same address - for example, families or friends sharing a flat.
However, there are situations where individuals may need their own TV licence, even if someone else in the building already has one.
Communal TVs vs private TVs
A common source of confusion is whether an existing TV licence for a building also covers TVs in private rooms or living spaces.
This situation most often applies to:
- Students living in halls of residence
- Military personnel living in barracks or on bases
- People living in care homes or residential accommodation
In these cases, the TV licence held by the organisation or building owner usually only covers televisions and devices in communal or shared areas, such as lounges, common rooms or staff areas.
If a resident has their own TV, computer, tablet or other device in a private room and watches live TV or BBC iPlayer on it, they will normally need a separate TV licence of their own.
That said, some groups - particularly people living in care or residential homes - may qualify for a significantly reduced licence fee or, in some cases, a free licence. We explain these exemptions and discounts in more detail below.
Shared housing
People living in shared accommodation may or may not need their own TV licence, depending on how the tenancy is set up.
- If each occupant has their own individual tenancy agreement for a specific room, they will usually need their own TV licence.
- If everyone is named on a single joint tenancy agreement for the whole property, one TV licence will normally cover all residents.
There can be exceptions. For example, if someone in a shared property has exclusive access to their own bathroom or kitchen facilities, TV Licensing may treat that space as self-contained, meaning a separate licence could be required.
If the situation isn't clear, it's sensible to check directly with TV Licensing to confirm whether a separate licence is needed.
Lodgers
Lodgers are treated differently from tenants for TV licensing purposes.
In most cases, a lodger living with the homeowner is covered by the household's TV licence, provided they are not living in a fully self-contained unit.
TV Licensing's definition of a lodger can include family members, partners, nannies, au pairs, housekeepers, or anyone renting a room in the main home.
However, if a lodger lives in self-contained accommodation - such as a granny flat, annex, or converted outbuilding with its own facilities - they will usually need their own TV licence.
If there's any uncertainty, checking with TV Licensing can help avoid misunderstandings and ensure the correct licence is in place.
People aged 75 and over
Some people aged 75 and over do not need to pay for a TV licence, but this now applies to a much smaller group than in the past.
Since July 2020, free TV licences for over-75s are no longer universal. Instead, eligibility is means-tested.
You can get a free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over and:
- You receive Pension Credit
- You live with a partner at the same address who receives Pension Credit
Anyone aged 75 or over who does not receive Pension Credit must pay for a TV licence at the standard rate.
Before the change in 2020, all households with someone aged 75 or over were entitled to a free licence, covering around 4.5 million households.
Under the current system, eligibility is much narrower. At the time the policy changed, it was estimated that around 1.5 million households would still qualify for a free licence. In 2023/24, around 775,000 free TV licences for over-75s were funded by the BBC.
There has been ongoing public and political debate about the policy, including calls for the Government to resume funding free licences for all over-75s. However, the current rules remain in place.
Second homes
If you own a second home made of bricks and mortar, or another permanent structure, you'll usually need a separate TV licence for that address.
There is one important exception. If you only watch TV or BBC iPlayer on devices that run solely on their own internal batteries and are not plugged into the mains or connected to an external aerial, they can be covered by the TV licence at your main home.
This includes watching on:
- A mobile phone or tablet
- A laptop that is not plugged in
- A battery-powered TV with a built-in or portable aerial
If the device is plugged in to charge, connected to the mains, or connected to an external aerial, you'll need a separate TV licence for the second home if you watch or record live TV or use BBC iPlayer.
Static caravans, touring caravans, motorhomes and similar mobile accommodation are usually covered by the TV licence for your main home, provided that live TV or BBC iPlayer is not being watched at both locations at the same time.
When you don't need a TV licence
You do not need a TV licence if you never watch or record live TV on any channel and do not use BBC iPlayer.
This applies even if you watch on-demand content through streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video or YouTube, provided you're not watching live broadcasts or BBC iPlayer.
You also don't need a licence if you only watch non-UK live streams on demand. However, if the stream is broadcast live - regardless of the country it originates from - a TV licence is still required.
UK residents who are temporarily or permanently posted overseas (such as military personnel stationed abroad) generally won't need a TV licence while they are not living in the UK. However, if a licence was already paid for, eligibility for a refund will depend on timing and circumstances.
Getting a refund
TV Licensing allows refunds when a licence is no longer needed, but the process can be strict and evidence-based.
Refunds may be issued where:
- You no longer need a licence due to a genuine change of circumstances
- You've moved address and no longer require a licence at the old property
- There has been an administrative error or overpayment
- A licence has been cancelled due to fraud or non-payment
Cancelling a licence does not automatically mean you're legally allowed to watch TV without one. You must genuinely not be watching live TV or BBC iPlayer, or be covered by another licence.
TV Licensing may ask for evidence to support a refund request. Examples of accepted evidence include:
- A final utility bill
- Official confirmation of a house sale or tenancy ending
- Written confirmation of admission into hospital or a care home
- A Ministry of Defence letter confirming overseas posting
Refunds are normally calculated in full unused months, meaning you could receive up to 11 months back depending on when the licence was last used.
If you're moving home, you can usually transfer your existing licence to the new address rather than cancelling it. However, if you've previously declared that you don't need a licence, you must inform TV Licensing again after you move so the declaration applies to the new address.
Further details on eligibility and the refund process are available on the TV Licensing website.
Free and discounted TV licences
There is only one guaranteed way to get a TV licence completely free of charge: living in a household where someone receives Pension Credit.
However, some people may qualify for a reduced-price TV licence depending on their circumstances.
Black and white TV licences
Although rare, black and white TV licences are still available in the UK for households that only use a black and white television set.
A black and white TV licence currently costs £58.50 per year, compared with £174.50 for a standard colour licence.
Black and white licences cannot be purchased or renewed online. They must be arranged by phone, post or PayPoint.
It's important to note that if the equipment used is capable of receiving colour signals - for example via a set-top box or recorder - TV Licensing may require a full colour licence, even if the picture displayed is black and white.
Severe sight impairment
People who are registered blind (severely sight-impaired), and households where the licence is held in their name, are entitled to a 50% discount on the cost of a TV licence.
For a standard colour licence costing £174.50 per year, this reduces the annual cost to £87.25.
To claim the discount, the licence must be issued in the blind person's name and TV Licensing must be provided with one of the following:
- A certificate issued by, or on behalf of, the local authority
- A certificate from a registered ophthalmologist
Once eligibility has been confirmed, the discount continues automatically at renewal.
TV Licensing can also provide licence information in accessible formats, including Braille, large print and audio.
Care home residents
People living in residential care may be eligible for a heavily discounted TV licence under the Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) concession.
This concession applies to residents who are aged 60 or over and retired, or who are substantially disabled.
The ARC licence costs just £7.50 per year and applies per room, flat or bungalow within the care home.
Both the individual and the care home must meet eligibility criteria, and applications are normally handled by the care home manager.
Investigations and enforcement: what happens if you don't have a TV licence
If you need a TV licence but don't have one, TV Licensing can investigate and may take enforcement action.
Consumer advice organisations and debt management groups often classify the TV licence as a priority payment, because failing to hold one when required can ultimately lead to prosecution and a court fine.
Watching live TV or BBC iPlayer without a licence is a criminal offence. If a case goes to court, the maximum fine is £1,000 (or £2,000 in Guernsey).
Not having a TV licence is not an offence punishable by prison in itself. However, someone who is fined by a court and then fails to pay that fine could face further enforcement action, including imprisonment for non-payment.
How investigations work
TV Licensing maintains a database of UK addresses and sends letters to households where no active licence is recorded.
If letters go unanswered, TV Licensing may arrange a visit from an enforcement officer to confirm whether a licence is required.
Officers do not have the automatic right to enter your home. Entry is only permitted with your consent or under a court-issued warrant.
During a visit, an officer may ask questions about how television or streaming services are used at the address. If someone admits to watching live TV or BBC iPlayer without a licence, this can be used as evidence in a prosecution.
TV Licensing no longer relies on widely publicised "detector vans" as a routine enforcement tool. Investigations are primarily based on address records, correspondence, and information gathered during visits.
Declaring that you don't need a licence
If you genuinely don't need a TV licence - for example, because you only watch on-demand services like Netflix or Disney+ and never watch live TV or BBC iPlayer - you can submit a "No Licence Needed" declaration through the TV Licensing website.
Once registered, TV Licensing should reduce contact, although occasional checks or reminder letters may still occur in case your viewing habits change.
If your situation changes at any point, you're responsible for buying a licence before watching live TV or BBC iPlayer again.
What does the TV licence pay for?
The TV licence funds the BBC and related public service broadcasting obligations in the UK.
This includes BBC TV channels, national and local radio services, BBC iPlayer, and funding for the Welsh-language broadcaster S4C.
Licence fee revenue is also used to support wider public service responsibilities, including regional news provision, emergency broadcasting, and accessibility services such as subtitles, audio description and sign language.
The licence fee is set by the government and collected by TV Licensing. It applies regardless of how much BBC content an individual household actually watches.
While the long-term future of the TV licence is under review, it remains a legal requirement for anyone watching live TV or BBC iPlayer in the UK.
Summary: Check the rules for TV licensing
The rise of streaming services means more people now rely on catch-up and on-demand apps rather than traditional live TV.
This has caused confusion about when a TV licence is required, but the rules remain clear:
- If you watch or record live TV on any channel or service, you need a TV licence
- If you watch or stream programmes on BBC iPlayer, you need a TV licence
A standard colour TV licence currently costs £174.50 per year, with the option to spread payments by Direct Debit. Black-and-white licences are cheaper, and some households may qualify for free or discounted licences.
Free licences are available to households where someone receives Pension Credit, while reduced-price licences apply to people who are registered blind or living in certain types of supported accommodation.
If you only watch on-demand content on services like Netflix, Disney+ or ITVX (without watching live TV or BBC iPlayer), you may not need a licence - but it's important to check your situation carefully to avoid paying unnecessarily.
