TV Licensing

The BBC Television Licensing Refunds policy outlines the BBC’s policy (as applied by its agents) in relation to refunding licence fee payments.

A TV Licence is a legal permission to install and use a television receiver. The fee for that permission is payable in full, regardless of the length of time that the Licence will be needed.

There is no legal requirement for a refund to be made, but the BBC believes that it is appropriate in certain circumstances that refunds be given. The BBC has greatly extended the opportunity for refunds since it became the licensing authority in 1991, when refunds were only payable if a person ceased to use television within the first 28 days of purchasing the licence. See TV Licence refunds for more information.

The number of refunds given by TV Licensing over the last three years are as follows:

The BBC Television Licensing No Licence Needed policy deals with occupied premises where the occupier has declared that there is no television receiving equipment being used at the address to show television programmes. See What if TV Licence is not needed for more information.

The BBC Television Licensing Change of Address policy deals with circumstances where the licensed address on a TV Licence may be changed.

A TV Licence can only be transferred to another address if the change is permanent and within the lifetime of the Licence. If the change of address sought is not permanent (e.g. a request to move the Licence to a holiday home) the request will be refused.

A TV Licence allows the installation and use of TV equipment at the licensed place or premises – i.e. the ‘licensed address’ shown on the face of the TV Licence – by anyone who normally lives or works there.

The BBC Television Licensing Licensable Places policy defines what is a ‘licensable place’ for the purposes of implementing Part 4 of the Communications Act 2003 and the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004.

If TV Licensing is advised that an address is unoccupied it puts a stop (or ‘guard’) on enquiry letters being sent to that address normally for between three and six months. Experience has shown that unoccupied addresses usually become re-occupied in that time.

When an address is unoccupied for an extended period, TV Licensing can place a longer stop on communications as appropriate. In most cases this will be for up to one year, but the stop on contact can be re-applied at the end of the period if the circumstances remain the same.