The TV licence costs £180 per year in 2026/27 (it rose from £174.50 on 1 April 2026) and funds BBC television, radio, and online services. Whether you need one depends on what you watch (live TV or BBC iPlayer), not what device you use or whether you own a television set.
Do You Need a TV Licence?
The licence requirement has two separate triggers: watching live TV on any channel or platform, and using BBC iPlayer for anything at all. You only need to satisfy one of these conditions to need a licence.
| Activity | Licence needed? |
|---|---|
| Watching any live TV on any channel (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, etc.) | Yes |
| Watching or downloading anything on BBC iPlayer (live or on-demand) | Yes |
| Watching live TV on a phone, tablet, laptop, or streaming stick | Yes |
| Watching on-demand only on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, YouTube | No |
| Listening to BBC radio (live or on-demand) | No |
| Listening to podcasts | No |
| Watching YouTube videos (not live broadcasts) | No |
| Watching DVDs or Blu-rays | No |
| Playing games on a TV or monitor | No |
The key principle: Live TV requires a licence regardless of which device you watch on. The same programme watched live on a phone in a park is treated identically to watching it on a television at home. The BBC iPlayer rule is an additional requirement on top of this — iPlayer catch-up requires a licence even though it is not technically live.
If you genuinely only use Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and similar services, and never touch iPlayer or any live channel, you do not need a TV licence. You can tell TV Licensing this with a No Licence Needed declaration (see below).
TV Licence Cost 2026/27
The standard colour licence costs £180 for the year. A black-and-white licence costs £60.50 for the year. Discounts are available for specific groups: people aged 75 or over who get Pension Credit (free), people who are registered blind (50%) and eligible care and sheltered accommodation residents. There is no general low-income discount, but TV Licensing offers a Simple Payment Plan to spread the cost.
| Licence type | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| Colour TV licence | £180.00 |
| Black and white TV licence | £60.50 |
| Over-75 (receiving Pension Credit) | Free |
| Blind / severely sight impaired | 50% discount (£90.00) |
| AMP accommodation (eligible care homes, supported and sheltered housing) | £7.50 |
Payment Options
You can spread the cost across the year if paying the full £180 upfront is difficult. TV Licensing says most people pay by Direct Debit. The quarterly plan includes a £1.25 charge on each payment, so it costs slightly more than £180 over the year.
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual (Direct Debit or card) | £180.00 in one yearly payment, with no additional fee |
| Quarterly direct debit | From £46.25: four payments, each including a £1.25 charge |
| Monthly direct debit | From £15 a month. For a first licence the first 6 payments are higher (about £30 a month) |
| TV Licensing payment card | Weekly, fortnightly or monthly, from £6.50 |
Who Is Exempt?
Free TV Licence — Over 75 on Pension Credit
Until 31 July 2020, everyone aged 75 or over received a free TV licence funded by the government. From 1 August 2020 the free licence has been paid for by the BBC and limited to people receiving Pension Credit. This change remains controversial. Currently the free licence is for people aged 75 or over who get Pension Credit or live with a partner who does.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 75 or over |
| Benefit | Must be receiving Pension Credit (either Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit) |
| Household | The person aged 75 or over must get Pension Credit or live with a partner who does; the licence then covers everyone at the address |
| How to claim | Apply online through TV Licensing or call 0300 790 6117 |
If your partner is 75 or over and receives Pension Credit, the whole household is covered — including you, even if you are younger. If you are approaching 75 and not yet claiming Pension Credit, it is worth checking whether you qualify, as it could unlock the free licence. See our Pension Credit guide for eligibility details.
50% Discount — Blind or Severely Sight Impaired
If you are registered blind, or live with someone who is, you can get a 50% discount on the TV licence. The licence must be in the blind person’s name.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Certification | Must be registered blind, or live with someone who is |
| Discount | 50%, currently £90.00 for a colour licence |
| How to apply | Apply on the TV Licensing website or call 0300 790 6071 |
Students
There is no general student exemption: whether you need a licence depends on where you live and how you watch.
| Situation | Licence needed? |
|---|---|
| Student in halls who only watches on a battery-powered device that is unplugged and not connected to an aerial | Covered by the licence at your home address, if it has one |
| Student in halls — device plugged into the mains | Needs own licence |
| Student in a shared house | One licence if you share a joint tenancy or watch in a shared area only; your own licence if you have a separate tenancy and watch in your own room |
| Student who never watches live TV or iPlayer | No licence needed; you can tell TV Licensing with a No Licence Needed declaration |
The battery-powered rule is very specific: the device must be completely disconnected from the mains at the time of viewing. Using a laptop on battery power while it is also plugged in to charge does not count.
Care Homes and Sheltered Housing
People in an eligible residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation can get a TV Licence for £7.50 if they are retired and over 60 or disabled. Sheltered accommodation can qualify too, and the housing manager checks eligibility and applies on your behalf.
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Eligible residential care, supported housing or sheltered accommodation | £7.50 licence |
How to Cancel Your TV Licence
TV Licensing says you can cancel your licence if you no longer watch TV on any channel or service or use BBC iPlayer, or if you are moving abroad and will not need it again before it expires. Stopping payments does not cancel it: TV Licensing says cancelling a Direct Debit does not cancel the licence, and reminder letters to unlicensed addresses continue. If the licence holder has died, TV Licensing asks to be told.
Step-by-Step Cancellation
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Go to tvlicensing.co.uk to cancel online, or call 0300 790 6071 |
| 2 | Say you no longer need the licence |
| 3 | Confirm that you won’t need the licence again before it expires |
| 4 | Request a refund if you are eligible (it is worked out in complete unused months) |
| 5 | If you pay by direct debit: when you are claiming a refund, TV Licensing cancels it for you; if you cancel without a refund, cancel it with your bank afterwards |
TV Licensing says not to cancel your Direct Debit if you want to request a refund, apply for a different type of licence or change payment scheme, because it cancels the Direct Debit for you. If you are not eligible for a refund and cancel the licence online, it says to make sure you then cancel your Direct Debit with your bank. Cancelling a Direct Debit does not cancel the licence.
Refund Rules
Any refund is calculated in unused months. You must have at least one complete month left on your licence that you won’t need before it expires, and there is no refund if less than one month is left between cancellation and expiry.
| Situation | Refund |
|---|---|
| At least one complete unused month left | Refund for each complete unused month (between one and 11 months) |
| Less than one month between cancellation and expiry | No refund |
| Licence not paid in full | The expiry date may be changed to reflect what you have paid |
| Processing time | TV Licensing aims to process and issue refunds within 21 days of receiving your application, paid by cheque or BACS transfer |
Making a No Licence Needed Declaration
If you do not need a licence, you can tell TV Licensing by completing a No Licence Needed declaration. TV Licensing says that if you tell them you don’t need a licence, they may visit to check, and if they find you have been watching, recording or streaming programmes illegally you risk prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000 plus any legal costs and compensation you may be ordered to pay.
Key points about the declaration:
- If you currently hold a licence, TV Licensing needs to cancel it before it can apply your declaration
- A declaration is for people who do not watch TV on any channel or service, or use BBC iPlayer, or whose property is empty
Enforcement — Your Rights
This section sets out what TV Licensing itself says about letters, visits and warrants.
TV Licensing says an Officer visits when it has no record of a licence at your address and has not had a reply to its letters. If you allow the Officer into your home, they check whether any TV equipment is set up or being used, and may caution and interview you if they suspect it is.
TV Licensing says that if it receives a search warrant from a magistrate (or sheriff in Scotland), Officers can enter your address without your permission. It can ask for a warrant when it has reason to believe the law is being broken, and the Officer is joined by the police on the visit.
| Situation | Your rights |
|---|---|
| Enforcement officer visits | The Officer tells you why they are visiting and shows two ID cards |
| Interview | The Officer cautions you and explains that you do not have to say anything, but that anything you do say could be used in court |
| Search warrant | Officers can enter without your permission only if TV Licensing receives a warrant from a magistrate (a sheriff in Scotland) |
| Maximum fine | Up to £1,000 for watching or recording live TV without a licence |
If You Receive Threatening Letters
TV Licensing says it writes to all addresses with no TV licence or current declaration that one is not needed. An Officer visits when it has no record of a licence at your address and it has not received a reply to its previous letters. If you receive letters at a new address and do not need a licence, you can tell TV Licensing with a No Licence Needed declaration.
Streaming Services — Do You Need a Licence?
The critical distinction for streaming is: Any use of BBC iPlayer needs a licence; other services need one only for live TV.
| Service | Requires licence? |
|---|---|
| BBC iPlayer (live or on-demand catch-up) | Yes |
| ITV Hub / ITVX — live broadcast | Yes |
| ITVX — on-demand catch-up only | No |
| Channel 4 — live broadcast | Yes |
| Channel 4 — on-demand only | No |
| Sky Go / Now TV — live channels | Yes |
| Sky Go / Now TV — on-demand content | No |
| Netflix | No |
| Disney+ | No |
| Amazon Prime Video | No |
| Apple TV+ | No |
| YouTube — regular videos | No |
| YouTube, live TV channels or programmes shown as they are broadcast | Yes |
If your household has moved entirely to on-demand viewing and you have cut out iPlayer, you genuinely do not need a licence. The practical question to ask is: “Does anyone in this house ever watch anything live, or use BBC iPlayer for any programme?” If the honest answer is no, you can cancel.
Moving House
If you move home within the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man and still need a licence, TV Licensing says you can move it to your new address up to three months before you move. There is no need to cancel it.
- If you move into a property where the household already has a licence, you are covered by it if you share a joint tenancy or watch in a single shared area; with a separate tenancy and your own room you need your own
- If you move into a property alone, update your licence to the new address online
- If you cancel your licence when you leave a property and do not move somewhere already covered, you will need to buy a new licence if you watch live TV or iPlayer at the new address
Common Scenarios
| Scenario | Need a licence? |
|---|---|
| Only use Netflix and YouTube on a smart TV | No |
| Watch live football on Sky Go on a phone | Yes |
| Watch BBC dramas on iPlayer catch-up | Yes |
| Have a TV but only use it for gaming | No |
| Listen to BBC Radio on a smart speaker | No |
| Elderly parent is 75+ and receives Pension Credit | Free licence |
| Student in halls on battery-powered laptop | Covered by the licence at your home address outside term time, if it has one |
| Shared house, one housemate watches live TV | One licence if you share a joint tenancy or a single shared area; separate tenancies need their own |
| Moving abroad for a year | Cancel and apply for a refund |
| TV broken, no replacement yet | Still need a licence if you watch live TV or use iPlayer on another device |
Business Premises
TV Licensing says a business with one premises needs a single licence to cover all TVs used at the site, and the licence covers any staff, customers or visitors to the premises. If any TV or screen is used for live viewing or iPlayer at business premises, a licence is required for those premises.
| Situation | Licence details |
|---|---|
| Office with a TV in a reception area | A single licence covers all TVs used at the site |
| Staff or visitors watching on any device at the premises | Covered by the premises licence |
| Hotel guest rooms | One licence covers up to 15 rooms or accommodation units |
| Shop displaying TVs for sale | No licence needed for installing, demonstrating, testing or repairing sets in the course of the business; other viewing of live TV needs one |
Key Contacts
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Licensing website | tvlicensing.co.uk |
| Phone | 0300 790 6071 |
| Minicom | 0300 709 6050 |
| Post | TV Licensing, Darlington DL98 1TL |
| Over-75 free licence | tvlicensing.co.uk/age |
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