Communications - In England

This information applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Who needs a television licence

You need a TV Licence to use any television-receiving equipment to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV. These include programmes on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, cable and satellite television. Television-receiving equipment includes:

• TV sets
• set-top boxes
• DVD recorders
• video recorders.

You don't need a television licence if a TV set cannot receive TV programmes and is used only:

• for close circuit monitoring
• for watching pre-recorded videos or DVDs
• as a computer monitor – see under heading You don't use your television set or other device to watch or record broadcast programmes.

You do need a licence to watch TV on a mobile phone or other battery-operated device.

A television licence allows the person named on it and any member of his or her household to use one or more television sets or video recorders.

If you only have a black and white television, you only require a black and white television licence. If you have a colour television, a DVD recorder or video recorder, you will require a colour television licence. This will apply even if the DVD or video recorder is used with a black and white television set.

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How much is a television licence

There are set fees for colour and black and white television licences. These are increased annually. The increase is effective from midnight on the day of announcement. The current fees are:-

People who are aged 75

Free television licences are available for anyone who is 75 years old or over.

The TV licence reminder includes details of how to apply along with an application form for the free over 75 licence. There is a special helpline to answer queries on 0844 800 5875.

If you are 74 you can apply for a special short term licence that lasts until you are 75. For details of the cost of this licence contact TV Licensing on the number above, or by post (see under heading TV Licensing for the address).

People who are registered blind

If you are registered blind by the local authority you will get a reduction in the cost of your television licence if you produce the local authority certificate or doctor's certification form when you buy the licence. The reduction is 50% of the cost of a colour or black and white television licence. If you are registered as partially sighted you cannot get a reduction. The reduction is:-

A TV licence is not necessary in order to install or use a television sound-only receiver. These are made for blind people and are manufactured on behalf of the Royal National Institute for the Blind. Television sound-only receivers are available on loan from the British Wireless for the Blind, which can be contacted at:-

British Wireless for the Blind
Gabriel House
34 New House
Chatham
ME4 4QR
Tel: 01634 832 501

People living in care homes or sheltered accommodation

If you live in one of the following types of accommodation, you may be entitled to a reduction in the cost of a television licence:

• a registered care home
• sheltered accommodation provided by the local authority or a housing association.

If you live in one of the above types of accommodation you must also meet the following conditions to be eligible for a reduction in the cost of a television licence. You must:

• be fully retired and aged 60 or over. For people aged 75 years or over - see under heading How much is a television licence; or
• have a physical or learning disability, or a mental illness.

This type of licence is called a licence for Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC). It is a group licence and must be applied for by the providers of the accommodation. It can only be obtained from TV Licensing (see under heading TV Licensing). The provider of the accommodation is responsible for collecting the licence fee from each person covered by the ARC.

The black and white or colour licence fee for someone who qualifies for an ARC is £7.50 from 1 April 2007.

If you think you might be entitiled to ARC, you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for deatails of your nearest CAB, including those that give advice by e-mail, click on nearest CAB.

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How to buy a television licence

As soon as you get a television set, DVD recorder or video recorder for which you need a licence, you are responsible for buying the licence. You can do this by phoning or writing to TV Licensing and asking for a form to complete (see under heading TV Licensing for contact details). You will not be covered until the licence is issued, even if you have sent a completed application form and payment to TV Licensing. A licence issued for the first time will last for one year from the first day of the month of issue.

You can apply to renew a licence up to a month in advance. The new licence will last for one year from the original date of expiry, not from the date the licence is renewed.

If you make an application to renew a licence more than a month before the current licence expires, for example, to avoid an expected price rise, the new licence will last for one year from the first day of the month of issue, and no refund will be payable on the old licence.

It is the policy of TV Licensing to send reminders to renew licences, but they are under no legal obligation to do so and it is the responsibility of the licence holder to renew the licence. The absence of a reminder is not regarded as a valid excuse for not having a current licence. It is also the licence-holder’s responsibility to tell TV Licensing if they move.

If you rent or buy a television set, DVD or video recorder, the trader is under a legal obligation to notify TV Licensing. This also applies if you change a rented black and white television for a colour television.

You can pay for your television licence in one annual payment or by instalments (colour televisions only).

Paying for your TV licence annually

If you make an annual payment for your TV licence, you can pay by:

• cash, at a PayPoint outlet (see under heading Paying for your TV licence at a PayPoint outlet, below); or
• cheque, by post to TV Licensing; or
• debit card (switch or delta). This can be arranged by contacting TV Licensing; or
• direct debit from your bank account or credit card account. Contact TV Licensing to arrange this or sign up online using the TV Licensing website www.tvlicensing.co.uk/dd. Direct debits will be made from your account annually, at the current licence fee rate, unless you cancel the agreement.

Paying for your TV licence in instalments

There are several ways you can pay for your TV licence in instalments:

Paying by direct debit

You can pay in instalments for a new colour television licence or renew an existing licence by direct debit from your bank account. You can do this:

• monthly. If you're buying a new licence, you'll pay the whole cost over the first six months. After the first six months, you can start paying towards the next year's licence in 12 monthly instalments. You can get more details from TV Licensing (see under heading TV Licensing)
• quarterly. You have to pay an extra £5 (£1.25 per quarter). If you want to use this scheme, get a form from TV Licensing (see under heading TV Licensing).

Weekly/fortnightly instalments - Cash Easy Entry

If you get benefits, for example, Income Support, are on a low income or don't have a bank account, you may be able to pay in weekly or fortnightly instalments. You can get more details from TV Licensing (see under heading TV Licensing).

The TV licence savings card

The TV licence savings card has replaced TV licence savings stamps. You can pay for your TV licence in instalments with the savings card using cash or a debit card. You can use the savings card at a PayPoint outlet (see under heading Paying for your TV licence at a PayPoint outlet, below) or over the phone on: 0845 155 0404.

Television licence stamps

TV Licence stamps have been replaced by the TV Licence savings card.

You can no longer buy savings stamps, but if you still have some, you can get a refund from TV Licensing (see under heading TV Licensing).

Paying for your TV licence at a PayPoint outlet

You can use a PayPoint outlet to pay for, or save for, your TV licence.

PayPoint outlets can be found in newsagents, local shops, supermarkets and petrol stations. You can get details of your local PayPoint outlets on the TV Licensing website (see under heading TV Licensing).

If you are renewing your licence, take the renewal form to a PayPoint outlet. You can pay by cash or credit or debit card. You will be given a receipt by the PayPoint outlet which you must attach to your licence so that it is valid. You do not need to send the receipt to TV Licensing for your licence to be valid.

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When can you get a refund for a television licence

You can only get a refund for a television licence in limited circumstances. These are where:-

• you are exchanging a black and white licence for a colour licence. You can get a refund by post from TV Licensing Refund Centre (see under heading TV Licensing); or
• two licences have been bought by mistake and only one is needed. You can only get a refund by post from TV Licensing Refund Centre (see under heading TV Licensing); or
• the licence is no longer needed, for example, because you are moving abroad or after a death. A refund will be made provided the licence is valid for at least another three months.
• you are aged 74 or over and have applied for a short term licence – see under People who are aged 75 under the heading How much is a television licence.

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What happens if you do not have a television licence

If you have a television set, DVD recorder or video recorder which is not licensed, TV Licensing may find out:

• because any trader who sells or rents televisions or video recorders must give TV Licensing the customers’ names and addresses, and these will be checked against the record of who already has a television licence; or
• by sending a routine enquiry letter. The letters are sent to addresses where there is no record of a television licence being held; or
• because a television licence is not renewed; or
• because a detector van or other detecting equipment picks up a television signal to an address which is not on TV Licensing’s records as having a television licence. Detector vans can tell whether someone is using a black and white or colour television set.

You may be visited by a TV Licensing enquiry officer if TV Licensing suspect you do not have a television licence or if you have not responded to an enquiry letter or licence reminder.

All enquiry officers carry identification cards which they should show. The enquiry officer must state the purpose of the visit.

You do not have to let the enquiry officer into your home. If you do allow an enquiry officer to come in, they will carry out a brief inspection of the main living areas. If they are satisfied there is no TV set, they can authorise a 'stop on contact' for four years. This means that no one will contact you about your TV Licence for four years.

If the enquiry officer is satisfied that you do not have a television licence and that you should have one, a statement will be taken under caution. The enquiry officer should not suggest that if you buy a licence within a certain period, no action will be taken.

If you do not let the enquiry officer in, they may apply to a magistrates' court (sheriff court in Scotland) for a search warrant. They can do this only if there is good reason to suspect an offence has been committed. Refusal to allow entry to an enquiry officer is not, in itself, enough to justify anyone applying for a search warrant.

You can be prosecuted for having or using a television set or video recorder and not having a licence for it. You can be prosecuted even if you are not the owner or hirer of the set, for example, in a case where the set belonged to a husband but was switched on and watched by the wife, the wife was prosecuted. However, if you are prosecuted, producing a valid licence in court can be used in mitigation. A copy of the licence should therefore be sent to the court.

If TV Licensing decide to prosecute, the case will be heard in the magistrates court (District court in Scotland). If you are found guilty the maximum fine which can be imposed is £1,000. The court cannot confiscate the television set or order you to pay the television licence fee arrears.

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Students

If you are a full-time student living away from home, you will usually need a television licence if you have a TV or anything else used to receive or record TV programmes (such as DVD or video recorders, set top boxes or PCs with TV cards).

If you are living in a hall of residence and use a TV in your room you will need a separate TV licence. You will also need your own licence if you share a house with others but have a TV in your own room for which you have a separate tenancy agreement. If you have a separate tenancy agreement but there is only one TV being used in a communal area, only one licence is needed. If you share a house with others and have a joint tenancy agreement, you will only need one TV licence regardless of where the TV is located in the house.

You do not need a TV licence if you only use a battery-operated (i.e. internally powered) portable television set, and you usually live with someone outside of term time who holds a valid licence – for example, a parent.

If you have a DVD recorder or video recorder, you will need your own colour television licence, regardless of the type of television set you have. The only exception is if a DVD or Video recorder is only used to watch pre-recorded DVDs or videos, in which case it should not be connected to an aerial.

Students and refunds

Students can apply for a refund of an unused portion of their TV licence. If you have bought a licence at the beginning of the autumn term and do not remain in university accommodation or lodgings over the summer, you a are entitled to a refund of any unused quarter (three full calendar months).

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Using a television set away from home

If you have a television set, DVD recorder or video recorder which you use at another address on a temporary basis, for example, at weekends or during holidays, you will need to have a separate licence for it. This is the case even if you already have a licence for a television in your main home.

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Television sets in rented accommodation (including guest houses and bed and breakfast)

In rented accommodation, the tenant is responsible for obtaining the licence unless the landlord installed the set, in which case the landlord is expected to obtain the licence. However, the user of the television set, DVD recorder or video recorder will always be ultimately responsible for ensuring there is a television licence and could therefore be liable for prosecution. If you are the tenant, make sure there is a licence, either by ensuring the landlord buys the licence or by buying it yourself.

A landlord who lets more than one unit of accommodation with a television set, set-top box, DVD recorder or video recorder in the building for overnight, as opposed to long-term, accommodation, may be eligible for a hotel licence - see below.

If a building is divided into bedsitters or flats, each separate unit of accommodation is regarded as one household unit. This means that each household unit with a set needs a separate television licence. Lodgers, paying guests and other residents, including relatives, who occupy separate accommodation at the same address count as separate households and need a separate licence for their own use of a television.

Where people jointly rent a flat or house only one licence is required as long as they all live together as part of the same household, sharing all the facilities and the bills. People who live under this type of arrangement may have to produce evidence of this, for example, the joint tenancy agreement. The licence will need to be in the name of one individual and if that person leaves the flat they are entitled to take the licence and transfer it to their new address. A television licence is not transferable from one person to another except in the case of a free over 75 licence (see under heading How much is a television licence).

If a tenant installs a television set, their landlord is under no obligation to ensure that the tenant has a licence.

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Television sets in holiday accommodation (including caravans)

Television sets, set-top boxes and DVD or video recorders installed by the landlord for the use of temporary guests on holiday must be licensed. A separate full licence must be obtained for each unit of accommodation with a television set, set-top box, DVD recorder or video recorder. For example, in a house divided into self-contained flats, each flat will need a licence. However, on a caravan site, the proprietor who owns the caravans may be eligible for a hotel licence - see below. If you are a holidaymaker and have a set in a touring caravan, this will be covered by a licence for your home address. If the caravan is static a licence for your home address provides sufficient coverage if television sets are not used at the same time at home and in the static caravan.

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Television sets in hotels

Hoteliers can obtain special comprehensive licences (hotel licences). Only one licence fee is required for television sets, DVD recorders or video recorders provided by the hotelier in up to 15 rooms. Each additional licence fee will cover up to five more rooms. A room may have more than one television set, DVD or video recorder in it without affecting this rule. Guests and staff who are permanently resident in the premises will require separate licences to use their own sets in their rooms. More information about hotel licences can be obtained from TV Licensing (see under heading TV Licensing).

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You don't use your television set or other device to watch or record broadcast programmes

If you do not use your television set, video recorder or DVD player to watch or record authorised broadcast programmes (that is, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, cable television or satellite television) you will not need a licence. This means that you would not need a licence if, for example, you only:

• use the television set as a computer monitor
• use the television set to play electronic games
• watch pre-recorded videos or DVDs, whether or not these have been bought or recorded by someone else.

However, the television set and must be incapable of receiving all authorised broadcast programmes. This could be done, for example, by making sure that neither the television set nor the DVD or video recorder are tuned into any channels and ensuring that they are not connected to an aerial.

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TV Licensing

TV Licensing can deal with any enquiry about television licences. The address is:-

Customer Services
TV Licensing
Bristol
BS98 1TL

Customer Enquiries: 0844 800 5870
Direct Debit and credit card payments: 0844 800 5840
Change of Address: 0844 800 5850
Minicom: 0844 800 6778
Cash Easy Entry: 08457 289 289
Translation service: 0844 800 6728
Welsh hotline: 0844 800 6714
Website: www.tvlicensing.co.uk

TV Licensing (Northern Ireland)
TV Licensing Regional Centre
9th Floor
Chamber of Commerce House
22 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7LX
Tel: 0870 5000 1017

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