Yahoo Finance 'I'm a student about to go to university, will I need a TV licence?'
I’m going to university next month and will be living in halls of residence. I’ve read you need a TV licence to watch BBC iPlayer. Is this correct, and is there any way I can avoid the cost?
TM, via email
Thousands of students will be heading off to university in September so you will be far from the only one thinking about this. If you are watching TV without a licence you can open yourself up to a large fine, so it's worth making sure you are covered.
What does a TV licence cover?
It used to be the case that you only needed a TV licence if you planned to watch any sort of live TV. The rules changed last year meaning you must also have a TV licence to watch or download shows on-demand on BBC iPlayer, no matter what device you are watching it on.
There are some instances where you won’t have to pay. You do not need to be covered by a TV licence if you only watch shows on-demand on streaming services other than BBC iPlayer, for example All4, ITV hub or Channel 5 Player.
Will I be covered by my parents' licence?
It is also worth checking whether you are covered by your parents’ TV licence. As long as your parents’ address - this must be your “out-of-term” address - is covered by a TV licence you will be able to watch BBC shows on-demand on iPlayer. This rule does not cover you to watch live programmes, and your TV equipment must not be connected to an aerial OR plugged into the mains.
If you believe you do not need a licence, you should still notify TV Licensing (see contact details below).
As you are living in halls, you should also be aware that if you have a separate tenancy agreement for your room, you’ll need to get your own TV Licence. If you have all signed a joint contract then one licence should be sufficient.
How much is a TV licence and what happens if I don't pay?
A TV licence costs £147 and you can pay all at once, or in monthly or quarterly installments. The penalties for watching live TV without a licence, including on online TV services like SkyGo or All4, can be high - if you are caught out the maximum fine is £1,000.
If you don’t need your licence for the entire year, which is likely as you will probably be moving out for the summer, you can get a refund for each complete month before the licence expires.
For more information, or to purchase a TV licence, visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk or call 0300 790 6144.
