Many people assume a TV Licence is only for watching through an aerial, and that switching to an internet service means they no longer need one. That is a common and expensive mistake. The TV Licence rules are based on what you watch, not how it reaches your screen.
This guide explains when you need a TV Licence if you use IPTV, when you do not, and how the rules apply to some common situations. TV Licensing (opens in a new tab)'s own website is the official source, and its rules can change, so check there if you are unsure. The current licence fee is also listed on the TV Licensing website.
The two things that need a TV Licence
According to TV Licensing, you need a TV Licence to:
- Watch or record programmes as they are being shown live, on any channel or online TV service. This includes live TV delivered over the internet, so it covers IPTV.
- Watch or download BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, whether live, on catch-up or on demand.
The rules apply on any device: a television, a laptop, a desktop computer, a phone, a tablet, a games console, a streaming stick or a set-top box.
How the rules apply to IPTV
Watching live channels
If you use an IPTV subscription to watch channels as they are broadcast, you need a TV Licence. It does not matter whether the channel is a UK channel or an international one. TV Licensing's rule covers live TV on any channel, including channels broadcast from outside the UK.
Watching on demand
Watching films and series from an on-demand library, after they were originally shown, does not need a TV Licence, unless it is BBC content on BBC iPlayer. So if you only ever watch an IPTV service's on-demand library, and never watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer, you may not need a licence.
Catch-up
Catch-up is treated as on demand once a programme has finished being shown live. Watching a programme from earlier in the week through catch-up does not on its own need a licence, apart from BBC programmes on iPlayer. If you also watch anything live, you need a licence anyway.
Recording
Recording a programme as it is broadcast counts in the same way as watching it live, so it needs a licence.
Common situations
Phones, tablets and laptops
A licence covers your address, so everyone who lives there can watch live TV on any device at home. It also covers you when you watch on a portable device powered by its own battery while you are away from home.
Students living away from home
Students in halls or shared houses generally need their own licence if they watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer in their room. There is an exception: if a student watches only on a device powered by its own internal batteries, and is not plugged into the mains, they can be covered by their parents' licence at their home address. TV Licensing explains the exact conditions on its website.
Shared houses
In a shared house where each person has a separate tenancy agreement, each tenant who watches live TV in their own room usually needs their own licence. Where everyone shares a single joint tenancy, one licence normally covers the whole property. Check your arrangement against TV Licensing's guidance.
Second homes and holiday homes
A licence covers one address. If you watch live TV at a second home or holiday home, it usually needs its own licence, unless you meet TV Licensing's specific conditions for portable devices or caravans.
Caravans and motorhomes
A licence for your home address also covers a touring caravan or motorhome, as long as you are not watching live TV at your home address and in the caravan at the same time. Static caravans have their own rules.
Businesses
Businesses that show live TV, such as offices, pubs, hotels and shops, need their own licence, and showing pay TV channels in a business normally needs a commercial subscription as well. A household IPTV subscription is for private viewing only.
Discounts and free licences
TV Licensing offers some concessions:
- People aged 75 or over who receive Pension Credit, or who live with a partner who does, can apply for a free licence.
- People who are blind or severely sight impaired can get a 50% discount.
- Some residents of care homes and sheltered housing qualify for a reduced fee through the Accommodation for Residential Care scheme.
You can also spread the cost by paying monthly, fortnightly or weekly instead of all at once.
What happens if you watch live TV without a licence
Watching or recording live TV, or using BBC iPlayer, without a valid licence is a criminal offence. If you are prosecuted and convicted, you can be fined up to £1,000, plus legal costs. Paying for an IPTV subscription is not a defence. The licence and the subscription are completely separate.
Paying for your licence
The licence fee is set by the government and usually changes each April. You can pay it in one go, or spread the cost:
- By Direct Debit, monthly or quarterly.
- With a payment plan, which lets you pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly, sometimes using a TV Licensing payment card at a PayPoint.
If money is tight, TV Licensing's Simple Payment Plan is designed for people who have struggled to pay. Contact TV Licensing to ask whether it suits you.
Moving home
Your licence covers an address, not a person, so update it when you move. You can change your address online through TV Licensing's website. If you are moving into a home where someone else already holds a licence, such as moving in with a partner, you may be able to cancel yours and claim a refund for the unused months.
Getting a refund
If you no longer need a licence, for example because you only watch on demand, you have moved abroad, or you have moved in with someone who already has one, you may be able to get a refund for full months left on your licence. Apply through TV Licensing's website and explain why you no longer need it. They may ask for evidence.
How TV Licensing checks and what to expect
TV Licensing keeps a database of licensed addresses and writes to addresses where no licence is recorded. If you have told them you do not need one, they may write occasionally to confirm, and enforcement officers may visit to check.
An enforcement officer does not have an automatic right to enter your home. They need your permission, or a search warrant granted by a court. If an officer visits, you can ask to see their identification. If you are watching live TV without a licence, the simplest way to avoid any trouble is to buy one straight away online.
If you do not need a licence
If you only watch on-demand content that is not on BBC iPlayer, and never watch live TV, you can tell TV Licensing you do not need a licence. You can do this online. They may write to confirm or visit to check, and you should let them know if your circumstances change.
Be honest with yourself about how you watch. It is easy to switch on a live channel without thinking, and one live programme is enough to need a licence.
IPTV, TV Licences and the cost of watching TV
When you compare the cost of an IPTV subscription with satellite, cable or streaming apps, remember that the TV Licence is a separate cost for most households in every case. Our comparison of the ways to watch TV in the UK sets out the subscription costs side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Does an IPTV subscription include a TV Licence?
No. An IPTV subscription and a TV Licence are separate. Even if you pay for IPTV, you need a TV Licence to watch live TV in the UK.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch international channels live?
Yes. The rule covers live TV on any channel, including channels from other countries, watched in the UK.
Do I need a licence if I only watch films on demand?
No, as long as you never watch live TV and never use BBC iPlayer.
Do I need a licence to watch YouTube or on-demand streaming apps?
Not for on-demand videos and programmes. You do need one if you watch a channel's live broadcast on any app or website, or use BBC iPlayer. Live streams of TV channels on video sites count as live TV.
Does one licence cover all the TVs in my house?
Yes. One licence covers every device at a single address, however many TVs, laptops and phones you have.
Where can I check the rules for my situation?
TV Licensing's website has detailed guidance and a check tool. If your situation is unusual, contact TV Licensing directly.
If you are setting up IPTV for the first time, our article What is IPTV? explains how it works, and our setup guides walk you through each device.
