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I’m moving into a care home. Do I need to cancel my free TV Licence?

You're taking your TV to the care home

If you are using your own television in your own room at the care home you will need to move your free TV Licence to the care home address (required by Department of Work and Pension rules).

You can update your details online.

Don't know your licence number?

What if I take my licence with me and there is someone still living at my old address?

When you move please let us know you are taking your licence with you, telling us the details of anyone else still living in your home.

You can email us by going to Contact us letting us know their:

  • title, initial and last name;
  • date of birth (if over 74).

Anyone under 74 still living at your home will need to buy a TV Licence online.

Anyone aged 74 or over could be entitled to a free TV Licence in their name, from their 75th birthday.

You're not taking your TV with you to your care home

If anyone else is living in your home, they may use your free TV Licence if:

  • before you moved, they were living in your home as part of the family unit; and
  • the home they are living in is your main address not your second home.

Please note that:

  • We will not send a new licence for their use.
  • When the free TV Licence is due to expire we will send a reminder to apply for a standard (not concessionary) licence.

If anyone else is living at the property we will need to send a reminder to the correct person when the free TV Licence expires and check if they are eligible for a free TV Licence.

You can email us by going to Contact us letting us know their:

  • title, initial and last name;
  • date of birth (if over 74).

Anyone aged 74 or over and receiving Pension Credit can apply for a free TV Licence. Pension Credit can be in the name of the licence holder, or in their partner’s name if they’re a couple and live at the same address.

If you or your partner don’t receive Pension Credit you’ll need to continue to pay for your licence.

More information about how to apply

If no one is living at the property you can contact us to tell us your property is empty and the date when you expect it to be occupied. We will cancel the free TV Licence and will not send any letters.

Ways to contact us:

Please Contact us .

Call us on 0300 790 6165*.

Write to us at TV Licensing, Darlington, DL98 1TL.

*Calls to our 0300 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number, whether from a mobile or landline. If you get inclusive minutes, calls to an 0300 number will be included free of charge.

 
 

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