Current TV Licence Fee 2024–2027
The standard colour TV licence fee has been frozen by the UK government at £174.50 per year for the period from April 2024 to March 2027. This three-year freeze was confirmed by the Secretary of State as part of a mid-term BBC Charter review settlement.
£174.50
Standard colour TV licence fee (frozen April 2024 – March 2027)
There is also a black and white TV licence, available for households that only use black and white televisions. The cost is £53.50 per year — a significant saving, though very few households in 2026 genuinely only own black and white sets.
The TV licence is administered by TV Licensing on behalf of the BBC. Revenue from licences funds the BBC's television, radio and online services. Enforcement is the responsibility of TV Licensing investigators.
Who Needs a TV Licence?
You need a TV licence if you do any of the following on any device, including televisions, laptops, tablets, smartphones, games consoles, or any other internet-connected device:
- Watch live TV on any channel (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, any channel) as it is being broadcast
- Watch, download or stream anything on BBC iPlayer — including catch-up programmes, documentaries, box sets and live streams
- Record live TV at the same time as it is being broadcast
This applies regardless of what device you use, where you are in the UK, or how you receive the broadcast — whether through an aerial, satellite dish, cable, or internet streaming.
What Does NOT Require a TV Licence?
You do not need a TV licence for any of the following activities:
- Watching Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, or any other non-BBC on-demand streaming service
- Watching previously downloaded content offline
- Watching DVDs, Blu-rays, or video games on a TV screen
- Watching catch-up content on ITV Hub, All 4, My5, or other non-BBC on-demand services (these are not live broadcasts and not BBC iPlayer)
- Using a TV as a monitor (e.g., connecting to a computer to display files)
- Listening to radio, including BBC Radio stations
- Watching videos on YouTube, TikTok or social media platforms (except live BBC content streamed there)
The BBC iPlayer rule: Many people are surprised to learn that BBC iPlayer — including catch-up shows that have already aired — requires a TV licence. It is not just live BBC that requires a licence. If you access BBC iPlayer at all, for any content, you need a licence.
TV Licence Exemptions: Who Does Not Have to Pay
Free: Age 75+ on Pension Credit
Households where someone aged 75 or over receives Pension Credit qualify for a free TV licence. Must be applied for — not automatic.
No licence needed: No live TV or iPlayer
If no one in the household ever watches live TV or uses BBC iPlayer, no licence is required. A statutory declaration may be needed.
50% Discount: Blind/Severely Sight Impaired
Households where someone is registered as severely sight impaired (blind) receive a 50% discount — £87.25/year instead of £174.50.
Free: Some Care Home Residents
Residents in qualifying care homes (under the ARC licence scheme) may be entitled to a free licence for their room.
Free TV Licence for Over-75s on Pension Credit
The most significant TV licence exemption is the free licence for people aged 75 and over who receive Pension Credit. This was transferred from being a government-funded universal benefit (where all over-75s received a free licence) to a means-tested entitlement in 2020, administered by the BBC and funded from licence fee revenue.
To qualify for a free over-75 TV licence:
- At least one person in the household must be aged 75 or over
- That person (or their partner living at the same address) must receive Pension Credit — either Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit
- You must apply for the free licence — it does not activate automatically
- The free licence covers the whole household at that address, regardless of how many people live there
If you live with someone who is 75 or over and receives Pension Credit, you are covered by their free licence, even if you are younger. You can apply at tvlicensing.co.uk or call 0300 790 6071.
If you are 75 or over but do not receive Pension Credit, you still need to pay the full £174.50/year licence fee. If you think you might be eligible for Pension Credit, it is worth checking — Pension Credit is significantly underclaimed, with billions in entitlements going unclaimed each year.
50% Discount for Blind and Severely Sight Impaired
Any household where at least one person is registered as severely sight impaired (blind) with their local council is entitled to a 50% discount on the TV licence. This reduces the annual cost to £87.25 per year (or £26.75 for a black and white licence).
To claim the discount:
- You must apply to TV Licensing — the discount is not automatic
- You will need to provide evidence that someone in the household is registered as severely sight impaired — usually a certificate issued by the local council or an ophthalmologist's certificate
- If the registered person becomes fully exempt (e.g., reaches 75 and is on Pension Credit), the free licence takes precedence
- The discount applies to the household licence, not per person — so a household with two blind residents still only gets one 50% discount
Note: Partial sight impairment (not registered as severely sight impaired) does not qualify for the discount. The discount specifically requires registration as severely sight impaired under the criteria defined by the NHS.
Student TV Licence Rules
TV licence rules for students are frequently misunderstood. Here is a clear breakdown:
Students in University Halls of Residence
You need your own TV licence to watch live TV or BBC iPlayer in your halls room unless the university or halls accommodation has purchased a blanket licence covering all rooms. Many universities do hold such a licence — check with your university's accommodation service to confirm. Do not assume you are covered — the onus is on you to verify.
Students in Private Rented Accommodation
If you live in a private house or flat that you rent with other students, you need a TV licence for that address if any of you watches live TV or BBC iPlayer there.
Covered by a Parent's Licence
If you are a student living away from home and you only use a device that is powered by its own internal batteries (i.e., not plugged into the mains at the time of use) and your parents have a valid TV licence at home, you are covered by their licence at your term-time address. However, this is a narrow exception — if your laptop is plugged in while you watch, you are not covered. In practice, most students should have their own licence.
Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) Licences
Standard TV licence rules do not apply to care homes and other forms of supported residential accommodation. Instead, qualifying care homes, nursing homes and similar facilities can purchase an Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) licence.
An ARC licence covers multiple residents within the same property. The cost per room is lower than a standard licence. Within an ARC-licensed property:
- Residents aged 75 or over who receive Pension Credit are entitled to a free licence for their room (the ARC licence is obtained at zero cost for qualifying rooms)
- Other residents pay a reduced rate per room
- The care home or operator manages the licence arrangement with TV Licensing
If you have a family member in a care home, check with the management whether the facility has an ARC licence and whether the resident qualifies for a free room licence.
How to Declare You Don't Need a TV Licence
If you genuinely do not need a TV licence (because you never watch live TV or BBC iPlayer), you can formally declare this to TV Licensing to stop receiving reminder letters and enforcement visits.
TV Licensing sends letters and conducts door-to-door visits to addresses not on their database. You can submit an online declaration at tvlicensing.co.uk confirming you do not need a licence. This will typically stop contact for two years, after which they may follow up again.
There is no legal obligation to let TV Licensing officers into your home — they are not police officers and do not have the right of entry without a warrant. However, if you are watching live TV or using BBC iPlayer without a licence, investigators can apply to a magistrate for a warrant to enter and search your property.
How to Claim a TV Licence Exemption Online
Claiming an exemption or discount follows a straightforward process:
- Go to tvlicensing.co.uk
- Select "Apply for a free or discounted TV Licence"
- Choose the relevant exemption (over-75 Pension Credit, blind discount, no licence needed)
- Provide your personal details, address and relevant evidence (Pension Credit reference number, sight impairment certificate, etc.)
- Submit the application — TV Licensing will confirm and update your record
You can also apply by phone on 0300 790 6071 (Monday to Friday, 8am–9pm; Saturday 8am–2pm). If you are claiming a Pension Credit exemption, TV Licensing can check your Pension Credit status directly with DWP in many cases, reducing the need for paperwork.
Fines for Watching TV Without a Licence
Watching live TV or using BBC iPlayer without a valid TV licence is a criminal offence under the Communications Act 2003. The consequences are serious:
Penalty warning: If convicted of watching TV or BBC iPlayer without a licence, you could face a fine of up to £1,000, plus prosecution costs and a victim surcharge. This could total well over £1,000 in practice. A criminal record may result.
TV Licensing uses a variety of enforcement methods:
- TV Licensing Officers visit unlicensed addresses and can witness someone watching live TV or using iPlayer as evidence
- Detection equipment — while TV Licensing historically claimed to have detection vans, the primary method of gathering evidence today is direct observation by visiting officers
- Court warrants — if there is evidence of an offence, officers can apply to a magistrate for a warrant to enter and search premises
- Database matching — TV Licensing cross-references their database with address data to identify premises without a licence
Each year, thousands of people across the UK are prosecuted for TV licence evasion. Prosecutions account for a significant proportion of all magistrates' court cases. The maximum fine of £1,000 is regularly applied in practice.
The Black and White TV Licence
A black and white (monochrome) TV licence covers a household that only owns black and white televisions and does not use any colour TV. The cost is £53.50 per year — a saving of £121 compared with the colour licence.
In practice, very few genuine cases remain — almost all modern TVs are colour. However, if you have an old monochrome set and truly only use that, the cheaper licence applies. If you use any colour display at all — including a laptop screen, smartphone or tablet — to watch live TV or BBC iPlayer, you need the standard colour licence.
TV Licence Enforcement: What You Need to Know
TV Licensing enforcement is a controversial area. Here are the key facts:
- TV Licensing officers are not police officers and have no automatic right of entry. You can refuse to let them in.
- If you do not have a licence and refuse entry, TV Licensing can apply to a magistrate for a warrant. Warrants are granted where there is reasonable evidence of an offence.
- Simply receiving letters from TV Licensing does not mean you are under investigation — they routinely contact all unlicensed addresses. Submitting a "no licence needed" declaration usually stops the letters.
- Caution interviews conducted by TV Licensing officers are formal — anything you say can be used as evidence in court. You have the right to remain silent in a formal caution interview.
- Payment plans ("TV Licensing Simple Payment Plan") are available if you struggle to pay the full fee upfront, allowing monthly or quarterly payments.
Frequently Asked Questions About TV Licence Exemptions
How much is the TV licence fee in 2026?
The standard colour TV licence costs £174.50 per year. This fee has been frozen by the government for the period April 2024 to March 2027. A black and white TV licence costs £53.50 per year. The over-75 Pension Credit exemption provides a free licence, and the blind discount reduces the fee by 50% to £87.25.
Who qualifies for a free TV licence at 75?
People aged 75 or over who receive Pension Credit (Guarantee or Savings Credit) are entitled to a free TV licence covering their whole household. The licence is not automatic — you must apply at tvlicensing.co.uk or by phone. If you are not on Pension Credit but think you might qualify, check your eligibility first, as Pension Credit is significantly underclaimed.
Do blind people get a discounted TV licence?
Yes. Any household where at least one person is registered as severely sight impaired (blind) with their local authority is entitled to a 50% discount — reducing the annual licence fee from £174.50 to £87.25. You must apply and provide evidence of registration as severely sight impaired.
Do I need a TV licence to only watch Netflix?
No. If you only watch on-demand streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+ or similar (not BBC iPlayer) and never watch any live broadcast TV, you do not need a TV licence. However, if you watch anything on BBC iPlayer — even a catch-up programme — you need a licence.
What is the fine for watching TV without a licence?
Watching live TV or BBC iPlayer without a valid licence can result in prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000, plus court costs and a victim surcharge. The total financial penalty in practice often exceeds £1,000. TV Licensing investigators can gather evidence during doorstep visits and apply for court warrants.
Are students exempt from the TV licence?
Students are not automatically exempt. Those in university halls should check whether their accommodation holds a blanket licence. Students in private rented homes need their own licence if they watch live TV or BBC iPlayer there. The narrow exception is using a battery-powered device away from home when parents hold a valid licence — but if plugged in, that exception does not apply.
Does a residential care home need a TV licence?
Care homes use a special Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) licence rather than a standard household licence. An ARC licence can cover multiple residents at a reduced rate per room. Residents aged 75 or over receiving Pension Credit are entitled to a free ARC licence for their room. The care home management handles this arrangement with TV Licensing.
MB
Mustafa Bilgic
UK benefits and personal finance specialist. Mustafa helps UK residents understand their rights and entitlements — from pension credits and TV licence exemptions to tax and benefits calculations — through clear, practical and up-to-date guides.