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Why you should buy a TV Licence |
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Here you'll find everything you need to know if you're watching TV at university - in halls or in a shared house.
Every student using a TV receiver at university to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV (including a PC or laptop) needs to be covered by a valid TV Licence. It's the law and there's no excuse for not being licensed.
Here are some excuses we've heard from students who thought they could get away without having a TV Licence, and why they were wrong.
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I thought my parents' TV Licence would cover me |
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I haven't got a TV. I watch telly on my laptop |
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I'm an A star student. They're not going to prosecute me |
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I didn't know I needed a TV Licence in a hall of residence |
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I live in a shared house. It's not my TV |
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I've got a TV Licence. I just can't find it at the moment |
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I can't afford it |
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I refuse to pay for a whole year when I'm only here for nine months |
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Your parents' TV Licence won't cover your use of any TV receiver in student accommodation, except in the following rare and limited circumstances:
- You only use TV receiving equipment that is powered by its internal batteries; and
- You have not installed it (e.g. connected it to an aerial or plugged it into the mains) to receive TV;
- Your permanent address (non term-time) is your parents' home; and
- Your parents have a valid TV Licence for their home.
If you do not satisfy all of these requirements, you will need to buy your own TV Licence for your student accommodation.
To check whether this exception applies to you, please call us on 0844 800 6721. |
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It makes no difference how you watch telly - whether it's on your laptop, PC or mobile phone or through a digital box, DVD recorder or good old-fashioned TV set - if you use any device to receive television programmes as they're being shown on TV, the law requires you to be covered by a licence.
In exceptional circumstances you may be covered by your parents' TV Licence, but this is very rare. |
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Using TV equipment to watch or record TV programmes without a valid licence is against the law, and students are not exempt.
Enforcement Officers regularly visit student accommodation to find those who are breaking this law. If caught, you may be interviewed under caution. You may then be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000. Plus you'll have to pay £139.50 for a colour TV Licence. (Or £47.00 if you use black and white.) |
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Your hall probably has a licence covering TVs in communal areas, but this won't cover a TV in your room. So, if you're planning to watch TV in your room, make sure you're covered by a valid licence.
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If you've signed a joint tenancy agreement with your housemates, you'll only need one TV Licence to cover all the TV receivers in your house. So it's a good idea to share the cost.
If you don't have a licence between you, whoever is found watching TV when an Enforcement Officer comes to visit is the one who risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000. It could be you, whether you own the TV or not.
If you've signed a separate tenancy agreement and you're taking a TV receiver to use in your room, you'll need a TV Licence of your own.
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Our database lists every licensed and unlicensed address in the UK, including all types of student accommodation - both on and off campus. So we know whether your address is licensed or not.
You should be aware that we catch on average more than 1,000 evaders a day, including students at university, and we visit student accommodation during term.
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We realise that £139.50 is a lot of money on a student budget. So we've made sure there are lots of different ways you can pay. You need to decide which is best for you now, because being a poor student is no defence in the eyes of the law.
You can spread the cost with a Direct Debit, which lets you pay the fee in manageable monthly instalments. Or you can join our Cash Easy Entry scheme, which lets you pay in even more manageable weekly or fortnightly instalments. If you prefer, you can put the whole fee on your debit or credit card.
You can buy a TV Licence here |
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The good news is you can apply for a refund if you find that you don't need your TV Licence for any full three-month period of cover remaining on it, should you stop using TV and not need a licence again before it expires. For example, for the last quarter of the academic year if you go on summer break.
Find out how to apply for a refund |
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