TV Licensing

What does the Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) TV Licence cover?

What the Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) Concessionary TV Licence covers 

The ARC Concessionary TV Licence allows qualifying residents, as well as members of their household and guests, to install and use TV receiving equipment in the qualifying resident's unit of accommodation or dwelling. The unit of accommodation or dwelling must be listed on the licence and the £7.50 fee must have been paid for that unit or dwelling.

From 1 April 2007, a respite room may be included in the list of units of accommodation. An occupant of a respite room will be covered by the ARC Concessionary TV Licence providing:

• The resident is retired (and aged over 60) or disabled, and
• The respite room is listed on the licence, and
• The £7.50 fee has been paid for the licence.

In this case "retired" means any person who is aged 60 years or more and, if they work:

(a) whose working hours do not exceed 15 hours a week; or

(b) where they do exceed that amount, immediately before 1st April 2004 the person:
(i) was ordinarily resident in accommodation in respect of which a television licence for accommodation for residential care was in force; and
(ii) was living in that accommodation as a resident (within the meaning of the Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) Regulations 1997[10] as they had effect at that time).

In this case "disabled" means a person:

(a) whose sight, hearing or speech is substantially impaired

(b) who has a mental disorder; or

(c) who are physically substantially disabled by any illness, any impairment present from birth, or otherwise.

What the ARC Concessionary TV Licence does not cover

TVs in shared areas such as residents' lounges, communal rooms and staff areas.

The TVs in these areas require a separate TV Licence paid at the full fee, and this should be provided by the manager of the accommodation or the housing authority in charge.

Staff or their families living in accommodation in an ARC scheme. It is these persons' responsibility to ensure that, if they watch or record TV in their accommodation, they are correctly licensed by buying a TV Licence at the full fee.

For more information on ARC Licences see care home residents.