Where TVs are provided in
communal spaces, they already have a TV licence. If there is a TV installed in
your room, you will need to buy a TV Licence yourself. This is also the case if
there is a TV in your shared kitchen, in which case you and your flatmates will
need to arrange this. You require a TV Licence if you:
- Watch
or record live programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel.
- Watch or
stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4,
YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.).
- You do not need a TV license to stream on demand programmes, unless they are on BBC iPlayer.
This
applies to any device you use, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile
phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder. If you’re
planning to use a phone, tablet or a laptop to watch TV, you are a UK citizen
and your parents have a licence at home, you do not need to buy an additional
TV Licence.
You
can buy a TV Licence at the Post Office, or online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk.