About TV Licence UK
TV Licence UK is an independent information resource covering the UK television licence. We publish plain-English guides to help people in the UK understand when they need a TV licence, how much it costs, who qualifies for a free or discounted licence, and what to do if their circumstances change.
We are not affiliated with the BBC, TV Licensing, or any UK government department. We do not collect licence fee payments, process cancellations, or handle any official TV Licensing transactions. For all official matters, you must contact TV Licensing directly at tvlicensing.co.uk or on 0300 790 6165.
What We Cover
Our guides cover the full range of TV licence topics, including:
- The current TV licence cost and how it is calculated
- Who legally needs a TV licence in the UK
- Exemptions and discounts including the free licence for over-75s on Pension Credit
- BBC iPlayer rules and the on-demand licence requirement
- How to pay, renew, cancel or claim a refund on a TV licence
- TV licence rules for students, shared houses, second homes, caravans and businesses
- Enforcement, fines and what to do if you receive a TV Licensing letter
- The future of the TV licence and the BBC Charter review
How We Keep Information Up to Date
TV licence rules and costs change periodically, particularly when the BBC Royal Charter is reviewed or when the annual fee is adjusted. We review and update our content whenever official changes are announced. All fees and rules on this site reflect the position as of April 2026 unless otherwise stated.
We source information from official GOV.UK publications, TV Licensing guidance, BBC announcements, and parliamentary library research briefings. We do not rely on third-party aggregators or unofficial sources for factual claims.
Our Approach
We write for the general public, not for lawyers or policy experts. Our aim is to give people a clear, accurate answer to their question as quickly as possible, without unnecessary jargon or padding. If something on this site is unclear or out of date, we want to know. You can contact us using the details on our Contact page.