Monday 15 December 2014

I'm going to be moving into a shared flat where there'll be one tv that we'll only use to watch dvds on. Should I tell the tvla and ask for a declaration of not needing a license, or is it best just to leave it?

I'm going to be moving into a shared flat where there'll be one tv that we'll only use to watch dvds on. Should I tell the tvla and ask for a declaration of not needing a license, or is it best just to leave it?


Do not contact them.

I cannot stress this enough. By contacting them you are just providing them with a direct correspondance and they may attempt to send an inspector round to get into your flat.

You do not need a licence and are under no legal obligation to inform them of this.

Its like if you dont have a car.. do you call up the DVLA to inform them that you wont be requiring a tax disc each year?

The TV i have has to be plugged into the mains to work but i do not intend on watching tv on it even though i think it is capable of receiving a signal with the internal areial (sp?). Does this mean that i need a licence??

The TV i have has to be plugged into the mains to work but i do not intend on watching tv on it even though i think it is capable of receiving a signal with the internal areial (sp?). Does this mean that i need a licence??


No, you dont need a licence just because your tv is capable of recieving signals.. only if you actually use it to do so.

Do you think there's any way the TV licence people can actually detect that you're watching live TV if you're watching it online through an unofficial livestream?

Do you think there's any way the TV licence people can actually detect that you're watching live TV if you're watching it online through an unofficial livestream?

Technically possible? Yes

Would they invest the time and resource to do so? Unlikely

Has there ever been a case of them successfully proving live TV has been watched on a laptop?

Has there ever been a case of them successfully proving live TV has been watched on a laptop?

I think they would have a hard time proving that in court. Most convictions are based upon someone's confession rather then any actual proof.

Do I need a licence to watch the news through the "click here to watch live news" button on the BBC website?

quick question... do I need a licence to watch the news through the "click here to watch live news" button on the BBC website? I live in my parents house where we have two TVs, we only need one licence right?

This is a stupidly confusing thing.



Yes you will need a license to watch live bbc news on their website. If you live with your parents then their household license will cover you and your two tvs.

If I take my Laptop in to a TV room that has a TV License, will I be covered to watch Sky Go as long as I stay in that room?

If I take my Laptop in to a TV room that has a TV License, will I be covered to watch Sky Go as long as I stay in that room? Any help would be great

Portable devices can be covered by a licence on your 'home' address. So if you are a student and have a tv licence at your permenant home address you will be covered to watch tv on a portable device anywhere.

If you 'install' your laptop (Plug it into a mains power supply) then that address would need to have a licence.

I've checked with the Tv Licence people and they have confirmed that you would be covered by someone elses' licence (or communal area licence) if you took your laptop to someone's house who had a licence.

Costs of TV licence since 1946 compared to average household costs