Whether you want to watch live football matches or can’t bear the thought of missing out on an episode of Love Island, you might be wondering if students always need a TV licence to watch TV or if there are any exceptions.
The bad news is that, as a general rule, you’ll require a TV licence if you want to watch or record live TV or watch anything on BBC (even on iPlayer). There’s also no special student TV licence or student discount, so you’ll need to pay the same price as everyone else. However, there is one way you can potentially watch live TV using your parents’ licence, which we’ll cover at the end of this blog.
This blog will include everything you need to know about when you need a TV licence and when you might not need one. We’ll cover:
First things first, a TV licence is a legal requirement in the UK if you watch live TV or BBC iPlayer. The cost of your TV licence funds the BBC, including their TV programmes, radio stations, and weather forecasts.
If you watch live TV or use iPlayer, you’ll need to pay for a licence, even if you rarely watch live programmes. Not having one could lead to a fine of up to £1000, so it’s best to follow the rules. You don’t need one if you only watch TV on catch-up or on demand through streaming services like Netflix.
There is no student discount for TV licences, so the price is the same for everyone – £159 a year. You can pay yearly, monthly or quarterly through Direct Debit.
However, if you purchase an annual TV licence and don’t need it for the whole year, for example, if you’re living with your parents over the summer vacation, you can request a partial refund. You’ll just need to make sure there’s more than one full month left on your licence. You can request your refund through the TV licence website.
Depending on your halls, there might be TVs in the communal areas, which should be covered by a TV licence paid for by your accommodation provider. However, you’ll need your own TV licence to watch live TV or BBC iPlayer in your room.
If you’re living in a shared house or flat, you’ll also need a TV licence to watch live TV or BBC programmes. However, if your landlord provides a communal TV, the TV licence for this should be covered by your landlord.
Depending on your tenancy agreement, there are different rules about how many TV licences you’ll need for your shared house.
Individual tenancy agreements
If you each have a separate tenancy agreement with your landlord, each housemate must purchase their own TV licence to watch live TV in their rooms.
Joint tenancy agreements
If you have a joint tenancy agreement, you’ll only need one TV licence to cover the entire house. If you’re all keen to watch live TV, you can split the cost between everyone in the house, unless, of course, the landlord has supplied a TV as by doing this, the licence fee will fall onto them.
Not sure what the difference between individual and joint tenancy agreements is? Have a look at our blog, ‘What you need to know about student tenancy agreements’.
Generally, your parents’ TV Licence won’t cover you while you’re away at university if you want to watch live TV.
However, there is a way that you can get around having to purchase a TV licence if your parents’ address is your main address outside of term time, and they pay for a TV licence…
According to the TV licence website, you can be covered by your parent’s TV licence in specific circumstances. These are the requirements to ensure you’re covered without needing to purchase your own licence:
However, if you’re going to be watching a lot of live TV, it makes sense to purchase a licence anyway to make sure you’re covered. Plus, you’ll need your own licence if you want to watch live broadcasts on an actual TV (as opposed to a tablet or laptop).
At Split The Bills, we’re on a mission to make bills as simple as possible for students. That’s why our bill-splitting package includes uncapped energy, water, broadband and an TV licence!
We’ll do all the hard work of setting up your utility accounts, comparing broadband deals, and creating direct debits. All you need to do is make one neat monthly payment each month!
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.