How much is a TV licence and do you really need one? ‘Television fundamentally changed’ | Personal Finance | Finance

When don’t I need a TV licence?

So, if a household finds themselves only watching catch-up TV (not including BBC iPlayer), they won’t need a TV licence – as long as they’re not using the TV services to watch anything live.

Households also don’t need a TV licence to watch streaming services like Netflix or Disney+.

But, for those thinking of cancelling their TV licence to cut costs, it’s vital to be sure everyone in the same household follows the rules.

Otherwise, those who are found to have streamed a programme live without a licence could be hit with a £1,000 fine, while those in Guernsey could face fines of up to £2000, and in Jersey, £500.

How to cancel a TV licence

If a person is sure they’ll no longer need a TV licence, they can formally let TV Licensing know by filling out the refund and cancellation request form.

Tv Licensing may then pay a visit to check the household is right to have cancelled – it says these inspections find one in five households do.

If a licence is needed, the household will have to pay the full licence fee, and may risk prosecution plus the fine.

What’s the cheapest way to pay for a TV licence?

For those needing to keep the licence, there are a number of ways to pay for it.