What Happens If You Don't Have a TV Licence?
The consequences
- • Fine: Up to £1,000 plus court costs
- • Enforcement visits: TV Licensing officers may visit your address
- • Detection: They use a database of unlicensed addresses, not detector vans
- • Prosecution: ~130,000 people are prosecuted per year (5% of all magistrates' court cases)
Your rights
- • You do NOT have to let an enforcement officer into your home
- • They cannot enter without a warrant
- • You don't have to answer their questions
- • If you don't need a licence, declare it online and they'll stop visiting for 2 years
The debate
The TV licence is increasingly controversial. Many households cancel and switch to streaming-only. If you're considering this, make sure you genuinely stop watching ALL live TV and BBC iPlayer.