TV Licensing in Houseshares

falcieri

So I was checking the TV Licensing website to find out how I stop my license when I move house in August and discovered that from 1 Sept as part of the new rules if you are a tenant in a shared house, you have to have YOUR OWN tv license if you have your own tenancy agreement.

This means that even if your landlord purchases a tv license for the house, it only covers communal areas. So a shared house of say 6 people who all have their own tenancy agreements and each have a device capable of receiving tv have to get their own license.

The mind boggles. Clearly they have worked out they are missing a trick and are now targeting people who are already so reduced in circumstances that they are reduced to sharing homes with random strangers.

The BBC really sucks. I'd be less concerned if there was enough worth watching to justify that individual payment but there isn't.

Mr_Singleton

Can't you stick a TV in a communal space? Vote with your wallet and only watch catch-up on all of the non-BBC services. Get Netflix etc.

The BBC and TV licensing seem to have form for targeting the poor as easy pickings

GingerBob_3

How would the gits at TVL find out such detail as tenancy agreements for a property? Do they even know if a house is rented out?

KingS6

Once your licence has been cancelled make sure you follow the "no contact rule" when you move into the house share.

Make sure the other housemates are aware of your intentions and respect your wish not to be harassed or contacted by TVL/Capita.

Make sure no one can gain access to your private room when you're out as well as this can invite trouble.

falcieri

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Can't you stick a TV in a communal space? Vote with your wallet and only watch catch-up on all of the non-BBC services. Get Netflix etc.

The BBC and TV licensing seem to have form for targeting the poor as easy pickings

But if you keep your own laptop in your room and it's capable of picking up tv then theoretically you can be done for not having your own licence. And if you leave your laptop in communal areas only your contents insurance will not cover it as it's only for your stuff in your room. The new rule is designed to screw everyone.

falcieri

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Can't you stick a TV in a communal space? Vote with your wallet and only watch catch-up on all of the non-BBC services. Get Netflix etc.

The BBC and TV licensing seem to have form for targeting the poor as easy pickings

KingS6 wrote: »

Once your licence has been cancelled make sure you follow the "no contact rule" when you move into the house share.

Make sure the other housemates are aware of your intentions and respect your wish not to be harassed or contacted by TVL/Capita.

Make sure no one can gain access to your private room when you're out as well as this can invite trouble.

Very few of the houseshares I have visited over the last 4 or 5 years have had locks on the individual doors. And if you live with the landlord you have little to no chance of getting your own lock. And the same rule applies since live in landlords still have separate tenancy agreements for lodgers.

falcieri

GingerBob wrote: »

How would the gits at TVL find out such detail as tenancy agreements for a property? Do they even know if a house is rented out?

With the huge proliferation of houseshares with various types of tenancy agreements they'll certainly have their work cut out. I can't see how they can police it effectively at all.

wongataa

falcieri wrote: »

But if you keep your own laptop in your room and it's capable of picking up tv then theoretically you can be done for not having your own licence.

True, but how would the TV licensing people find this out? TVL are going to see that a house has a valid license. Why would they investigate whether it is rented and if every tenant has their own tenancy agreement? That is a lot of extra effort if there is no blatant license evading or if you tell them.

falcieri

wongataa wrote: »

True, but how would the TV licensing people find this out? TVL are going to see that a house has a valid license. Why would they investigate whether it is rented and if every tenant has their own tenancy agreement? That is a lot of extra effort if there is no blatant license evading or if you tell them.

I totally agree. So a waste of time them adding these rules yes?

Rosemary7391

What is this new rule change? It still says on the TVL website that you only need a licence if you watch/record TV, and the new bit is use of bbc on demand services. If you only do that in communal areas I can't see that they can require you to have a licence just because you own a laptop.

Cisco001

falcieri wrote: »

Very few of the houseshares I have visited over the last 4 or 5 years have had locks on the individual doors. And if you live with the landlord you have little to no chance of getting your own lock. And the same rule applies since live in landlords still have separate tenancy agreements for lodgers.

Get one of these temporary door lock?
https://www.locksonline.co.uk/Temporary-Door-Locks/Temporary-Door-Key-Locks/Templock-Key-Black-Temporary-Door-Lock.html


If you live with landlord, you are lodger. You don't have tendency agreement.