I’m a landlord – is it my responsibility to provide a TV Licence? The TV Licence is the tenants’ responsibility, unless the tenancy agreement specifies that the landlord will provide the licence. In a shared house with a joint tenancy, one TV Licence will cover the whole house.
Who is exempt from TV Licence?
You could get a free TV Licence. Free TV Licences are only available if you’re 75 or over and you, or your partner living at the same address, are receiving Pension Credit. If you’re 75 or over and you, or your partner living at the same address, are receiving Pension Credit, please sign in to apply for a free licence.
Who Must Pay TV Licence?
TV Licensing
If you watch or record TV on any channel via any TV service (e.g. Sky, Virgin, Freeview, Freesat), you need to be covered by a TV Licence. If you watch live on streaming services (e.g. ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now, Sky Go), or use BBC iPlayer*, you need to be covered by a TV Licence.
How can I legally avoid a TV Licence?
You don’t need a TV Licence if you never watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, or use BBC iPlayer*. This applies to any device, including a TV, computer, laptop, phone, tablet, games console or digital box. Or let us know you don’t need a TV Licence. Find out more about when you need a TV Licence.
Can I cancel my TV Licence if I only watch Netflix?
How do I cancel my licence? You can cancel your licence if you no longer: watch or record TV on any channel via any TV service (e.g. Sky, Virgin, Freeview, Freesat) watch live on streaming services (e.g. ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now, Sky Go)
Can you be forced to pay a TV Licence?
It is an offence under section 363 of the Communications Act 2003 to watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, or use BBC iPlayer* on any device, without a valid TV Licence. Section 365 of that Act requires a person to whom a TV Licence is issued must pay a fee to the BBC.
Is a TV license legally required?
You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch programmes live on any online TV service – such as ITV Hub, All 4, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV or Sky Go. You don’t need a TV Licence if you only ever watch on demand programmes on any TV service apart from BBC iPlayer.
Is the homeowner responsible for TV Licence?
The TV Licence is the tenants’ responsibility, unless the tenancy agreement specifies that the landlord will provide the licence. In a shared house with a joint tenancy, one TV Licence will cover the whole house.
Can you refuse to let a TV Licensing in your house?
If a TV Licensing officer calls to your house, you do not have to let them inside. They do have the power to go to the police and get a search warrant to get inside but without a warrant you do not have to allow entry.
Can TV Licensing tell if you’re watching TV?
If you don’t pay, TV Licensing can check
If TV Licensing believes you’re watching ‘live TV’ or using BBC iPlayer without a licence, enquiry officers may pay you a visit. They can’t enter your home without permission, but can apply for a search warrant to do so.
Is it a criminal Offence not to buy a TV Licence?
The use of a television receiver without a valid licence can lead to prosecution, a court appearance and a fine of up to £1,000. In some cases, where there is a refusal to pay the fine and where all other enforcement methods have been tried, a person can be sent to jail.
How does TV License know if you watch iPlayer?
Our Privacy Policy explains that we may use data collected from other parts of the BBC to establish if you are using BBC iPlayer. If you would like to see what BBC iPlayer use is associated with your BBC account, you can request a copy of your BBC account data using your BBC account sign in details.
Where does the TV Licence money go?
TV Licensing doesn’t retain any of the licence fee revenue it collects; all monies are passed to the Government, and then the revenue collected is passed back to the BBC as Grant-in-Aid from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (opens in a new window).
Do I need a TV Licence to watch live streams?
Yes, you need a TV Licence to watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, on any device. It doesn’t matter if you receive it over the internet, from a cable or satellite provider or through an aerial.
Do they still prosecute for no TV Licence?
If you don’t pay your TV Licence. We will only prosecute as a last resort. You may be offered an alternative to prosecution first, such as setting up a payment plan. If this is an option for you, we’ll confirm this in writing.
How many people are prosecuted for not paying TV Licence?
TV Licensing, the body responsible for collecting the £159 BBC licence fee, prosecuted 49,144 people last year — 92 per cent of whom were convicted.
What happens if I don’t pay TV license?
Not paying for a TV Licence could lead to a £1,000* fine if we find that you have been watching, recording or downloading programmes illegally. Is it against the law to not have a TV Licence? You are breaking the law if you: watch or record TV on any channel via any TV service (e.g. Sky, Virgin, Freeview, Freesat)
Can you use your TV Licence at someone else’s house?
Yes, your licence will cover you at another address if you are using a device powered solely by its own battery and is not plugged into the mains. If you’re moving address permanently, you will need to change your TV Licence address. *A licence is not needed to watch S4C programmes on demand.
What is the average fine for not having a TV Licence?
What Happens if You Don’t Have a TV Licence? You only require a TV licence if you watch live TV and use catchup apps such as BBC iPlayer. If you don’t have a TV licence when you should have you could get fined up to £1,000 and in extreme cases get prosecuted in court.
How do TV Licensing investigate you?
TVL can apply for a search warrant from a magistrate if it has evidence that a householder is watching or recording live TV or BBC iPlayer without a licence.
Can the BBC track your IP address?
We collect some information automatically. Things like your IP address, which browser and device you’re using, or your device ID. And we can tell what webpage directed you to the BBC by looking at information from your browser.