The TV licence fee is set to rise to £180 in April – but certain groups can get a reduced fee or even a free one
Certain people in the UK are eligible for a free or reduced-cost BBC TV Licence, while others don’t need to obtain one at all. The present fee stands at £174.50, though it’s set to rise to £180 from April.
The licence fee has been a staple for millions of British households since its introduction back in 1946. At that point, the BBC was the sole broadcaster in the UK, with the licence costing merely £2 – roughly £105 in modern terms.
Despite major changes in how we watch television, including the arrival of countless channels, streaming platforms and on-demand services, this yearly fee remains. From April 1, 2025, the cost was set at £174.50, having increased from £169.50.
The charge applies to any household that:
- Watches or records live programmes as they’re being broadcast on any television channel
- Streams live material on any internet-based TV service – such as Channel 4, YouTube, or Amazon Prime Video
A licence is equally essential if you stream or download any BBC programmes through BBC iPlayer. That being said, there are particular circumstances where securing a licence isn’t necessary.
Students
According to GOV.UK, students who reside at a different address outside of term time, which is already covered by a licence, are exempt. They can utilise that existing TV licence whilst studying at university on any device that’s:
- Battery operated
- Unplugged from mains power
- Without aerial connection
People who only watch certain content
Furthermore, a TV licence isn’t required if you exclusively watch certain content types, excluding those previously listed. This includes streaming services such as Netflix and Disney Plus, catch-up television through platforms like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video, online video content including YouTube, and DVDs.
Living in shared accommodation
Should you share accommodation where a licence is already held, purchasing your own becomes unnecessary. One TV licence sufficiently covers an entire household, provided viewing occurs in shared spaces or under a joint tenancy arrangement.
If you’re 75 or over
The Government website explains that you can get a free TV licence if you’re 75 or older and you either:
- Get Pension Credit
- Live with your partner who gets Pension Credit
You can apply when you’re 74 if you already get Pension Credit. You’ll still need to pay for your licence until the end of the month before your 75th birthday. After that you’ll be covered by your free licence.
You can apply for a free licence online here. You can also apply by phone at 0300 790 6071.
If you’re in residential care or sheltered accommodation
This allows you to apply for a discount. You can get a TV licence for £7.50 if you live in an eligible residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation.
To qualify, you must also be either:
- Retired and over 60
- Disabled
Your housing manager can check if you can get it and will apply for you.
If you’re registered blind
You can get a 50 per cent discount if you’re registered blind, severely sight-impaired, or live with someone who is. The licence must be in the blind person’s name – if it’s not, you can make a new application to transfer it into their name.
You’ll need to provide your existing TV licence number when you apply. You can apply online here.
