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Residential care homes

As a manager of a residential care home, you need to make sure the home is covered by a valid TV Licence if residents watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. This includes the use of devices such as a TV, computer, mobile phone, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

If you are a resident, visit the page for Care Home Residents

The management of the care home is responsible for ensuring that a valid TV Licence covers all communal areas, guest rooms and staff accommodation.  These areas are not covered by the Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) concessionary licence and require a separate TV Licence. 

It costs £142.50 for colour and £48.00 for a black and white TV Licence.

Pay for your TV Licence

Residents need a separate licence for their own living area. Residential care homes may qualify for the ARC scheme. This may entitle residents to a reduced fee TV Licence of £7.50. There is also a free Over 75 ARC licence available if any of your residents are over 75 and don’t already have one.

Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) scheme

Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) scheme
Does your care home qualify for the ARC scheme? Find out by calling us on 0844 800 5808. You can also use this number to apply for an ARC concessionary TV Licence on behalf of your residents.
Cost of reduced TV Licence An ARC Concessionary TV Licence costs £7.50 per year for each unit of residential accommodation. If your care home qualifies, you can apply for residents who meet the conditions in the table below.
Your residents may qualify for reduced fees

Retired or disabled residents may qualify for reduced fees
Retired residents

The resident must be over 60. If the resident is in paid work, this must be for less than 15 hours per week.  If they work for more than 15 hours a week it will disqualify them for holding a Concessionary TV Licence unless they have held one since 31 March 2004.
Disabled residents The resident must have substantially impaired sight, hearing or speech, a mental disorder or substantial physical disability.
Your residents may be entitled to a refund

Your residents may be entitled to a refund
If they’ve already bought a full TV Licence, but qualify for an ARC Concessionary TV Licence

To claim a refund, please apply online with the following details:

  • Resident’s TV Licence number
  • The date they moved into the residential care home
  • Their previous address
  • Confirmation of their age and retired status, or confirmation of their disability

Find more information on sheltered accommodation.

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