A TV licence is something that many people in the UK need to have and purchase and is another thing you need to factor in your bills. But what is a TV Licence, and why do you need one? As a student, it can be confusing to know if you need one at all. Read on to find out more about TV licences for students.
What is a TV licence?
A TV licence allows you to watch live television in the UK. It also allows you to watch catch up and on-demand TV as well. Catch up TV is anything from BBC iPlayer to services such as Amazon Prime and Netflix. Until recently, you could watch these services without a TV Licence, but the rules have changed. In most cases, TV licences for students are required, so don’t get caught out.
Why do I need one?
You need a TV Licence because by law to watch TV, live or otherwise, in the UK. The licence helps to fund the BBC, amongst other organisations. If TV licensing believe that you are watching television without one, they can investigate. If you are found to not have a TV licence and you are watching TV, you could be fined. You need a TV licence, regardless of what device you watch TV on. This includes laptops, mobile phones and tablets.
Do I need one if I am living in student accommodation?
The short answer is, yes. The halls that you are living in may have a TV licence, but this will only cover communal areas such as common rooms. You will need to purchase one for the room that you are living in. If you are in a shared house, you will all be jointly responsible for paying for one TV licence, if you have a joint contract. Some landlords and providers may include payment for a TV licence in any ‘bills included’ packages. It is a good idea to check beforehand though, to avoid any confusion.
So know you know about TV Licences for students
You can now be safe in the knowledge that you can now freely enjoy TV whilst at University.
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