PLH/sm/AF-1

TO ALL STUDENTS

TV Licensing, students and the law - a guide for students

When do you need a TV licence?

Equipment

 A valid TV licence is required if you use a TV, or television receiving equipment such as

video or DVD recorders, set top boxes or PCs with broadcast cards. A valid licence is

also required if a computer is being used to receive streamed data online - live and fed

in real-time-of programmes included in a television broadcasting service. (Real time is

defined as viewing programmes at virtually the same time as they are broadcast

conventionally).

 From 1 September 2016 you will need to be covered by a TV Licence to download or

watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV, on BBC iPlayer. This

applies to any device and provider you use.

 Providing that you have a TV licence for your main address, then you will be covered for

any television receiving equipment that is powered by its own internal battery.

Accommodation

 If you live in Halls of residence and watch live TV or catch up TV on BBC iPlayer in your

own room, you need your own separate TV licence.

 You also need your own licence if you are sharing a house with other students and

watch live TV or catch up TV on BBC iPlayer in your room, and your room is a

separately occupied place (a separate tenancy agreement would normally indicate that

this is the case).

 If you have a separate tenancy agreement and watch live TV or catch up TV on BBC

iPlayer only in a communal area, then only one licence is required.

 If you are sharing a house with other students and you watch live TV or catch up TV on

BBC iPlayer in your own room, but the house can be treated as one place shared by all,

then only one TV licence is required (a joint tenancy agreement would usually be

evidence that the house is a single licensable place for this purpose).

Costs

For up-to-date cost information and details on the many ways you can pay, please visit the TV

Licensing website (www.tvlicensing.co.uk/info).

Refunds

 If students are not staying at the university over the summer, and do not need their TV

licence again before it expires, they are entitled to a refund. So long as they purchased

their TV licence in October, and they don’t need it for July, August or September, they

could be eligible for a refund. You can see TV Licensing’s refund policy and apply for a

refund online (http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/cancellations-

and-refunds-top7?WT.mc_id=r002 ).

For more information, visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk

l&m\freshers\freshersTVlicensing.fresherspack