TV LICENCES
Most landlords will not provide a TV for their tenants in which case a licence will be the tenant’s responsibility. 

If the landlord does provide a TV then both the landlord and the tenant can be held responsible.  In this case the landlord needs to make it clear whose responsibility it is in the tenancy agreement.  This won’t necessarily completely indemnify the landlord, but it will go a long way. 

Another alternative for landlords is to buy the licence and then add the cost to any service charge.  Remember that TV dealers must by law inform the TV Licensing Agency of all sales of TV receiving equipment within 28 days of the sale.  Any new purchase by landlords will therefore be cross checked against their data base of Licence holders.



Tenants
Tenants including student tenants should ensure that a TV used in a rental property is properly licensed, even if it is supplied by the landlord.

Where several tenants share a property and have their own TVs then one of the following applies:

• Under separate tenancy agreements all tenants will need their own licenses 
• If it's a joint tenancy then only one license is needed.

 
Lodgers
Lodgers need a separate TV license if they have their own TV in a bedroom, the exceptions being:

• If the lodger is a family member
• If the lodger lives in the same household due to a relationship (e.g. common law relationships)
• If the lodger is employed by the household (e.g. au pair, housekeeper, cook)

Are landlords are responsible for a TV licence?

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