Whoops Oversite on the TV Licence

Miss_Poohs

I currently have a corporate let in my rental property - I was cleaning it at the weekend and found 2 letters from TV licencing that the tennants hadn't passed on.

It appears the TV licence is now due for renewal.

The house is let furnished my TV being part of the deal.

Should I go ahead and renew the licence or is that something the tennant is supposed to do.

The corp let is up in August but may well be extented by a month or so, so I can't expect them to pay a yrs licence, can I?

Thanks

Miss P

Doozergirl

If you've given them a TV and it sounds like a serviced let, then I think it's your responsibilty. The TV license people aren't going to go after your tenant when they're not living there. Up the rent accordingly for the next people!

hazyjo

What does their lease say? Was there no agreement as to who would pay?

Jx

Miss_Poohs

Im going to phone the letting today and ask - I'm just not sure what to do, but I have to do something.

GDB2222

It's actually a license to operate a TV on the premises. So, strictly, the tenants need teh license. I suppose the real question is whether you pay all the other bills, such as council tax? If you do, then I suggest you also pay the TV license.

Miss_Poohs

The receptionist at the letting agency seemed to think it should be the tennant who should be paying, but I've asked her to check and phone me back.

The company who rent the house pay the council tax and utility bills - so I'm still not sure.

GDB2222

Miss_Poohs wrote: »

The receptionist at the letting agency seemed to think it should be the tennant who should be paying, but I've asked her to check and phone me back.

The company who rent the house pay the council tax and utility bills - so I'm still not sure.

That's easy then. The TV license is the occupier's responsibility, and if they are paying the council tax and utilities then they should pay that too.

pararct

They may have to renew the licence for a year but can 'chop in' the unused part for a refund when they leave. Once they leave remove all tv sets from the property, just in case they don't pay it and enforcement action is started. The fact they have ignored a couple of letters may mean they are trying to avoid it.

On that issue it may be worth pointing out that Mr BBC licence man does not have any right of entry unless his is accompanied by a police officer... They have been known to fib about their real powers to householders.

GDB2222

You don't need a license to have a TV on the premises, just to operate it. So, there's no need to remove the TV.

F_T_Buyer

I echo everyone and it's the tenants responsibility... they still chase me for a TV licence although I have one (they have confused my neighbour with my house) but they can't get that into their thick heads - yet every month I seem to get a letter.

theartfullodger

According to those nice people at TV Licensing either tenant OR Landlord could be fined up to £1,000 for a tenant not having a TV license...

see..

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ47/

I'm a landlord - is it my responsibility to provide a TV Licence?

If you let your property and you provide a TV for tenants to use, it's your responsibility to make sure that the address has a valid TV Licence.
If you do want to cover the occupants of the property to watch TV at the property, you can buy a TV Licence in your own name.
Ultimately if your property is unlicensed and you provide a TV, both you and your tenants can be held responsible and either of you could face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000 (this fine varies in Guernsey and Jersey)

£5 to an agreed, nominated, charity if anyone can quote the case of any AST landlord, not of a HMO, who's been done for this... like most of their letters & threats I greatly suspect it's just hot-air...

In Miss Poohs' case as it was a commercial let (so not an AST..) and the (human..) tenants would have been tenants or lessees of the corporate body that was renting the place Miss Poohs could argue the corporate body was "the landlord" as regards this matter.. Miss Poohs' "tenant" is not a human & thus can't need a licence... (Discuss, if necessary before a judge.. would make an interesting test case??)

Cheers!


Artful