TV LICENCE

Want to watch live TV and BBC iPlayer legally without a licence? A university student, depending on how you watch TV, may not need a licence. No licence needed if you meet these conditions:

 

1. Your out-of-term UK address, for example your parents’ or guardian’s home, is covered by a TV licence AND

2. You only use TV-receiving equipment like a smartphone, tablet or laptop that is powered solely by its own internal batteries AND

3. You are not watching TV on that device whilst it is connected to an aerial or plugged into the mains.

 

In other words, students whose parents or guardians have a UK TV licence are okay to use BBC iPlayer and/or watch live television on a smartphone, tablet or laptop that is not charging or connected to an aerial, without a licence, as long as your UK parents’ home is your usual place of residence outside term time.

 

However, if you watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer on, for example, a desk top computer, games console or television, you need a licence. 

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If you watch or record live television programmes, as they are being broadcast on any device, including catch-up on BBC iPlayer, because you have a ‘joint and several’ tenancy agreement, your group will only need one television licence for the whole house. Purchase a license from a Pay Point outlet or online from www.tvlicensing.co.uk.

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If none of you intend to watch or record live TV, we strongly recommend you go to www.tvlicensing.co.uk and complete an online declaration form by following ‘tell us you don’t need a TV licence’, otherwise you may receive an increasing number of letters or you could receive a hefty fine for watching or recording live television programmes without a TV licence.