Do I need a TV Licence?
You should have a TV licence if you live in the UK and watch or record live television programmes. Here’s what you need to know.
Reviewed by Catherine Hiley
Information on this page was reviewed by our fact-checkers before it was published. Learn more about our fact checking process and our editorial guidelines.
Last updated: 23 January 2026
4 mins read
A TV licence is what gives you the legal right to watch live telly in the UK. You pay money towards the costs of providing BBC content and in return, you get to watch and record live TV. On average, 94% of UK adults use the BBC each month, which means that the majority of the UK is legally required to have a TV licence. The licence is your proof that you’ve paid that money, which is known as the licence fee
TV Licence rules in the UK
You must have a TV licence to watch live programmes or record television programmes in the UK. You also need one for viewing programmes on BBC iPlayer, even if it’s not live. The rules are the same whether you’re watching on your phone, tablet or on a normal telly.
There were 23.8 million TV licences in force in March 2025 according to the BBC and the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that there are an estimated 28.6 million households in the UK.
You only need one TV licence per household, even if you have several television sets or multiple people watching on different devices. If lots of people are streaming different shows at once, it could put a strain on your internet connection. So you might want to consider upgrading to a better broadband deal.
It doesn’t matter how often you watch live TV. The licence fee is the same if it’s every day or just once a year and it’s illegal to watch live TV without one.
The TV License Law
The Communications Act 2003 states that:
“A television receiver must not be installed or used unless the installation and the use of the receiver is authorised by a licence”
You’ll need a TV licence, according to the government website, if you’re:
- Watching or recording live broadcast TV on any channel or service. This includes the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, as well as Freeview and cable TV channels ( Sky or Virgin Media, for example)
- Watching BBC iPlayer
What can I watch without a TV Licence?
There are still plenty of options to enjoy if you’re not interested in forking out for a TV licence.
You can use streaming and catch-up services, including:
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime
- Disney+
- Paramount+
- ITVX
- Channel 4
- My5
If they broadcast live channels, shows and events that you want to watch in real time, you’ll need a TV licence, even if you’re using a streaming service.
There is one small exception to the rule that you can’t watch iPlayer without a licence. As part of the BBC’s partnership with Welsh-language broadcaster S4C, you can access S4C programmes on demand using BBC iPlayer without a licence. You will still need a licence to watch S4C content live, whether that’s on iPlayer or on a television set.
What channels can I watch without a TV licence
You can’t watch any live television without a TV licence. You also can’t record anything from live telly to watch later.
You can watch programmes on demand from non-BBC channels using the channel’s own streaming service. These include ITVX, Channel 4 Streaming and My5.
It’s worth noting that some BBC programmes are available on other streaming services, where you can watch them on demand. For example, Doctor Who is featured on Disney+. In this case, you could watch it without paying for a TV licence.
Do you need a TV licence to watch ITVX?
You do not need a licence to watch ITVX on demand. But you’ll need one if you’re using ITVX to watch shows live.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch Netflix?
No, you do not need a TV licence to stream the majority of shows and films on Netflix.
However, Netflix has started to introduce live broadcasts of events like WWE, award ceremonies and even talk shows. You’ll need a TV licence to legally watch any of these.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch popular streaming services?
If you’re accessing programmes on demand rather than watching live, you don’t need a TV licence to use streaming services. So if you’re watching Peppa Pig on Netflix or Frozen on Disney+, you’re covered.
You do need a TV licence to use streaming services if you’re using them to watch programmes live. It’s fine if you’re using ITVX to watch old episodes of Inspector Morse but it would be illegal to watch the Lionesses battle it out live on the same platform. The same goes for watching LALIGA matches on Disney+ or the World Snooker Tour on Amazon Prime.
Find out if you need a TV licence for the most popular streaming services:
How much does a TV Licence cost?
A TV licence costs £174.50 a year, which works out at around 49p per day, according to TV Licensing.
You can pay in the following ways:
- Annually - You’ll pay £174.50 up front for the entire year
- Quarterly - You’ll pay about £44.89 per quarter, paid in arrears to TV Licensing. You’ll be charged an extra £1.25 on each payment
- Monthly - This option costs around £29.10 each month for the first six months, then about £14.54 each month after that. You’re effectively paying for a year’s TV licence in your first six months of payments.Then you’re paying towards next year’s licence, so your monthly payments will stay low for the following year. If you cancel your licence, you can apply to get any credit refunded
Who is eligible for a cheaper TV licence?
If you’re over 75 and either receive Pension Credit or live with someone who does, you can apply for a free TV licence. The Department for Work and Pensions estimates that there are 910,000 households where someone is eligible for Pension Credit but isn’t claiming it, so it’s worth checking.
If you live in a care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation, you could get a big discount on the licence for the telly in your own room or flat. The manager of your accommodation needs to apply for a concessionary licence and fill in everybody’s details. The fee per room or flat with this kind of licence is just £7.50 and it might be included in your accommodation costs. It’s important not to assume you’re covered without checking first. You’ll need to have your own licence unless you have proof that they’ve done the paperwork on your behalf.
If you’re blind or have severely impaired eyesight, you can apply to TV Licensing for 50% off the licence fee. If you live with a blind person it’s worth making them the licence holder for the household to benefit from this discount.
People watching TV on black and white sets also get a discount, paying £58.50 per year.
How do I pay for a TV Licence?
If you’re paying the full cost of your TV licence in advance, you can do this by debit or credit card (including over the phone). You can also pay by BACS bank transfer or by sending a cheque or postal order.
If paying upfront or having a monthly direct debit is a problem, you can get a TV Licensing payment card for more flexibility. It’s free to apply for one and it lets you pay by text message, through the TVL Pay app or at a PayPoint store.
You’ll pay for your licence in the initial 26 weekly payments, it will then switch to fortnightly payments for the remainder of the year.
This means you’ve paid for the full cost of the licence in the first six months, so if you keep up with the payments then you’ll be six months in credit by the end of the first year. It’s the same thing if you pay monthly, as we’ve explained above.
Where does my money go?
The money collected by charging a TV licence fee funds BBC television, as well as radio and online services. Part of it is used to make new original programmes and purchase the rights to show sporting events and films.
The BBC has a range of national TV channels and radio stations, like Cbeebies and the BBC Asia Network, as well as regional options, including BBC Scotland and BBC Radio Cymru.
It also funds its websites, like BBC News and streaming services including BBC iPlayer.
TV Licensing states that 86% of the licence fee that you pay is spent on the above and the rest is used on things like production costs and licence fee collection.
Can I watch TV without a TV Licence?
No, you can’t watch live TV or record telly programmes without a TV licence. It’s technically a criminal offence to do so. TV Licensing enforces this with home visits. In the year to March 2024, TV licence inspectors visited over 1.3 million homes and caught over 58,700 people watching live telly without a licence. The BBC estimates that licence fee evasion has cost it £466 million in lost income over the same period.
If the authorities have evidence that you’re doing this, they can get a search warrant from a magistrate and enter your home to check the TV equipment. Ultimately you could be facing a fine of up to £1,000. But this is a last resort. TV Licensing would rather work with you on a payment plan than prosecute you.
What can TV Licensing do to check if I need a licence?
If a TV licence inspector visits your home, they’ll check whether any television sets you have can receive live broadcasts, as well as asking whether or not you use any streaming services, including BBC iPlayer. They’ll usually check if you record any live TV, too.
The inspector will ask questions about your TV use and might record your answers as evidence.
You’ll be asked if you consent to the above before the inspection starts. If you refuse, it can result in more attempted inspections, so it’s best to get it sorted as soon as possible, whether that means paying for a TV licence or supplying evidence that you don’t need one.
Do I have to let TV Licensing into my home?
No, if a TV licence inspector visits your home because they suspect you’re watching live TV or BBC iPlayer without paying your licence fee, you can refuse to let them in.
This could result in them applying for a court order so that they can enter your home without your permission.
Before any of this happens, you’ll receive a notice of warning by post or email. This will notify you that you’re being investigated. It’s best to get in touch with TV Licensing at this point to either pay your licence fee or confirm that you don’t use the services.
What are the fines and penalties for not paying my tv licence?
If it’s determined that you watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer and don’t have a licence, you could be charged with a fine of up to £1,000 by court order.
You’ll also be required to pay for a TV licence on top of the fine.
How many people are prosecuted for not having a TV licence?
Figures from the Ministry of Justice show that 28,542 people in England and Wales were prosecuted for TV licence evasion in the year ending June 2024.
Of these prosecutions, 25,006 fines were issued.
The number of prosecutions has declined significantly in recent years, considering that in the year ending in June 2020, 81,788 people were prosecuted and 75,087 fines were issued.
What If I live in a shared household?
If you have a joint tenancy, you should only need one TV licence to cover the whole house.
Individual tenancy agreements could require you and every other member of your household to have your own TV licence for each of your rooms. The exception would be if TV and BBC iPlayer are only watched in communal areas and there’s a TV licence to cover this.
In some cases, your landlord might pay the TV licence fee for the property. You should get this confirmed in writing and make sure that it covers all TVs in the house.
How do I cancel my TV licence?
If your circumstances change so you no longer need a TV licence, perhaps you’re moving in with someone who already has one, you can cancel yours. The easiest way to do this is on the TV Licensing website.
Only one of four specific reasons for cancelling your licence will be accepted:
- You’re moving to a new home already covered by a licence You can only cancel your licence up to two weeks before your moving date. It’s important to check if you’ll be covered by the licence at your new home before cancelling. For example, if you’re a single tenant in a house of multiple occupancy, you’ll need your own TV licence.
- You no longer watch or record any TV TV Licensing should stop sending you letters about it for two years. You might still get visits from inspectors to your property to check that what you’re saying is true.
- The licence holder has died and nobody at the address needs a licence now It’s possible to cancel a TV licence if the holder has died. If someone else in the home watches TV, it’s possible to transfer it to them instead.
- You’re moving abroad If you’re no longer going to be living in the UK, Channel islands or Isle of Man, you can cancel your TV licence and request a refund.
There’s no way of cancelling a TV licence that will stop the inspectors visiting your home. You have no legal obligation to let TV licence inspectors in without a search warrant but you might want to be helpful and show them that you really don’t have a telly.
Their code of conduct prohibits them from harassing you or attempting to enter your home without permission. If you feel like their behaviour falls short of this, you should make a complaint.
Do I need a new TV licence if I change address?
If you’re moving house, you can transfer your existing TV licence to your new address at no extra cost. You’ll need the licence number or your customer number to do this.
If you’re moving to a home that’s already covered by a TV licence, you can cancel your current licence. (See above for how.) But do check first that there’s definitely a current licence for your new home and that it covers you. If you’re a lodger with separate living space, you’ll still need your own licence.
FAQs
What if I'm a student?
If you’re a student who lives in university accommodation, you’ll still have to pay for your own TV licence. Your accommodation provider might supply a licence for shared areas, so check to make sure.
The same goes for any shared housing that you live in, whether it’s on campus or not.
If your family home has a TV licence and you live there outside of term time, you’re covered by it while you’re at university on battery-operated devices, such as phones and tablets, that don’t plug into the mains or have an antenna.
Can I watch on demand without a TV licence?
Yes, you can watch TV on demand without a licence, as long as it’s through a service other than BBC iPlayer. But you’ll need one to watch live TV on any channel or streaming service.
What if I have a TV but don't watch it, do I need a licence?
No, if you don’t watch your TV, then you won’t need to get a licence. However, you might need to prove that to TV Licensing.
Do I need a separate licence if I have a second home?
It depends on the situation.
TV Licensing states that if your second home is a house, flat, bungalow or cottage, you’ll need a separate TV licence for it.
Those with a second home that’s a boat, touring vehicle, static caravan, mobile home or moveable chalet wont have to pay for a second TV licence. That’s unless someone is watching TV at the same time at your licensed address.
If you’re using a battery-powered device that doesn’t plug into the mains to operate to watch TV, like your mobile phone, tablet or laptop, you’re covered by your TV licence wherever you are.
Page last updated: 23 January 2026