TV Licence 2026: Cost, Who Needs One and How to Pay

How much does a TV Licence cost?

The colour licence went up by £5.50 this year. The government called it a 3.14% uplift in line with inflation. If you still use a black and white set, the licence is £60.50.

Another rise, tied to the consumer price index, is due in April 2027. That is the last year of the current Royal Charter, so what happens after it depends on the Charter review further down this page.

One licence covers one address and everyone in the household. Shared houses with separate tenancies work differently (see the section on students).

When do you need a licence?

You need one if you watch or record live TV broadcasts, on any channel and on any device. That includes Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media and a live stream on the internet. If you want to know what is airing right now, our what’s on TV tonight page lists it by channel.

You also need one for BBC iPlayer, live or on demand. iPlayer is the one catch-up service where the rule covers everything on it.

Live streams elsewhere count too. A live channel on YouTube, or a live programme on a subscription streaming service, needs a licence just as a broadcast does.

Your home licence also covers a phone, tablet or laptop running on its own battery, anywhere in the UK.

When don’t you need one?

If you only watch on demand, and never on iPlayer, you do not need one. That covers Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, ITVX, Channel 4’s streaming service and My5 when you are not watching live. DVDs, Blu-rays and ordinary YouTube videos are fine too.

What matters is live broadcast, not the screen. A TV you only use for games, discs and on-demand apps needs no licence. Put a live channel on, even for a few minutes, and it does.

If none of this applies to you, you can tell TV Licensing online that you do not need a licence. Our Freeview versus Sky versus Virgin guide explains how the different ways of getting live TV compare, and how to watch Freeview channels online shows which live streams will trigger the rule.

Can you get a free or cheaper licence?

Three groups pay nothing or pay less. GOV.UK sets out the rules:

• Aged 75 or over: a free licence if you receive Pension Credit, or live with a partner who does. It covers everyone at the address. Anyone already on Pension Credit can apply at 74; the paid licence carries on until the month before they turn 75 ends.
• Blind (severely sight impaired): a 50% concession, so £90 at the current price. The licence has to be in the blind person’s name.
• Residential care and sheltered housing: £7.50 for residents of qualifying care homes and sheltered or supported housing who are disabled, or retired and over 60. Your housing manager usually applies for you.

Paid in full and then qualified for the over-75 or blind concession? You can ask for the unused time back, however short.

Can you pay monthly?

Yes. TV Licensing offers Direct Debit monthly, quarterly or once a year. If you cancel a licence, months you paid for but did not use can be returned.

For people who struggle to pay, the Simple Payment Plan splits the cost into smaller instalments. You usually get on it through a referral from an advice or support organisation, so if the cost is a worry, talk to a local advice service before a payment lapses.

One trap: stopping the Direct Debit does not cancel the licence. If you no longer need it, apply for a refund instead.

Do students and housemates need their own?

In shared accommodation, each person with a separate tenancy who watches live TV in their own room needs their own licence. A single licence can cover a shared lounge or a joint tenancy. In university halls, GOV.UK says you need a licence for your own room.

GOV.UK’s concessions list has no student rate. The useful exception: if you only watch on a phone, tablet or laptop running on its own battery, the licence at your home address can cover it while you are away. Plug it into the mains and that cover stops.

How do you get a refund?

You can claim one if you will not need the licence again before it runs out and at least one complete month is left. TV Licensing usually pays within about 21 days.

Moving in with someone who already has a licence, moving abroad and moving into a care home each have their own cancellation route on TV Licensing’s site.

What happens if you don’t have one?

Watching or recording live TV without a licence is an offence, and GOV.UK says the fine can reach £1,000.

The BBC review does ask how any future licence should be collected and enforced fairly. Nothing has been decided or put into law, so the current rules stand. We will update this page if that changes.

Will the licence fee be scrapped after 2027?

The BBC runs under a Royal Charter that has applied since 1 January 2017 and runs out at the end of 2027 (31 December). On 16 December 2025 the government opened its review of the next one, publishing terms of reference and a green paper on BBC funding alongside a public consultation. That consultation has closed.

Next comes a white paper, which the government expects in 2026, then a draft Charter for Parliament to debate before the current one runs out. We had not seen the white paper by 29 October 2026.

Funding models are part of the review, so the licence fee is on the table. That is as far as it goes for now. Until a new Charter takes effect, the fee stays and keeps rising with inflation.

Is it different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

Not as far as we can find. GOV.UK lists one fee for the whole UK, and the rules above apply in all four nations. The Charter review is run by the UK government, which says it will consult the devolved governments and S4C. With S4C, on-demand viewing needs no licence but live viewing does. For channels in each nation, see the BBC One TV guide and our Freeview channel guide.

For the official source on prices and applications, go to TV Licensing.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a TV Licence in 2026?

A colour TV Licence costs £180 a year from 1 April 2026. A black and white licence costs £60.50. The fee is due to rise with inflation again in April 2027.

Do I need a TV Licence to watch Netflix?

Not for on-demand programmes. You do need one if you watch any live TV, including a live programme on a streaming service, and for anything on BBC iPlayer.

Do I need a TV Licence for YouTube?

Not for videos and clips watched on demand. You do need a licence to watch live TV broadcasts that are streamed on YouTube, such as a live channel or a live news stream.

Can I get a free TV Licence?

Yes, if you are aged 75 or over and you or your partner receive Pension Credit. The free licence covers everyone at your address. People already on Pension Credit can send the application in once they turn 74.

What is the fine for not having a TV Licence?

Watching or recording live TV without a licence can lead to a fine of up to £1,000, according to GOV.UK. The rules have not changed while the BBC Charter review goes on.

Do students need a TV Licence?

Usually yes if you watch live TV or iPlayer on a TV or any mains-powered device in your own room in university accommodation. A licence for the communal areas does not cover your own room. A device running on its own battery can be covered by your home licence.

Can I get a refund on my TV Licence?

Yes, if you will not need the licence again before it expires and at least one full month is left on it. TV Licensing usually pays refunds within about 21 days. Over-75 and blind concession applicants can claim back unused time whatever is left.

Will the TV Licence be scrapped?

Not yet. The BBC Charter runs to 31 December 2027, and the government is reviewing how the BBC is funded. A white paper is expected later in 2026, and the licence fee stays in place until the government decides otherwise.

Last checked: 29 October 2026.