The latest figures from TV Licensing reveal that just over 23 million people are currently paying for a TV licence in their homes. In the UK, it’s legally required to have a TV licence for your property if you watch or record live TV or use certain streaming services such as BBC iPlayer.

TV Licensing guidelines emphasise that ‘it is an offence to watch or record’ TV programmes live, or download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch-up TV and BBC iPlayer. At present, a standard TV licence is priced at £174.50 annually.

However, this cost can be spread out with a monthly Direct Debit of £14.54 or a Quarterly Direct Debit of £44.89. While there are stringent rules regarding who must pay for a TV licence, not everyone will meet these requirements and could potentially avoid paying for a TV licence.

All those who don’t need to pay a TV licence

While a TV licence is necessary to watch or record live TV on any channel or service, or to use BBC iPlayer, GOV.UK guidance indicates that you don’t need a TV Licence to watch:

• Videos or DVDs
• On-demand TV through services like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video
• Streaming services like Disney+ or Netflix
• Videos on websites such as YouTube

People eligible for a discount or a free TV licence

• People aged over 75 receiving Pension Credit
• People aged over 75 living with someone who gets Pension Credit
• People in residential care or sheltered accommodation
• Those registered blind

If you’re currently on Pension Credit but haven’t yet reached 75, you can apply for a free TV licence when you turn 74. However, you’ll need to continue paying the licence fee until the end of the month before your 75th birthday.

After that, you’ll be entitled to a free TV licence. For those in care homes or sheltered housing, a discounted TV licence rate of £7.50 is available if you live in a qualifying property.

To be eligible for this discount, you must either be retired and over 60 or disabled. Additionally, people registered as blind, or those living with a blind person, can receive a 50% discount.

Guidance on who is and isn’t required to pay for a TV licence can be found here.