TV Licence/Holiday Home

lynseydee

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help?

My mum and I have just bought ourselves a holiday home. We are looking to rent out the caravan when we're not using it. Do we need to buy a TV licence for it? I'm only asking as when I've tried searching for whether we do or not I read it that as I have one for my home address another one isn't needed. I may have got that wrong so wanted to double check so we don't get done for not having one and don't end up spending money on something we don't need.

Thanks

Cornucopia

It depends on what type of structure the Holiday Home actually is, and how you will use it.

If it is a House, Flat, Bungalow or Cottage: (I see it's not, but included for completeness)

You will need a separate TV Licence to watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV on any channel or watch and download BBC programmes on iPlayer in your second home. This applies even if you will not be using TV in both properties at the same time.

If it is a Boat or Touring Caravan:

No additional Licence is required - usage is covered by your existing Licence.

Static caravans, Mobile Homes or Moveable Chalets:

Your main home’s TV Licence will cover you unless anyone is watching or recording live TV on any channel or watching or downloading BBC programmes on iPlayer at the same time at your main licensed address. There is a form to declare this kind of usage.


Or:-

You can use equipment powered by its own, internal batteries covered by your Licence from your main home.

You can use TV equipment without a Licence IF you never watch TV broadcast channels and never use BBC iPlayer. (So you can use commercial catch-up, Netflix, Amazon, most of Youtube, DVDs, etc.)

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/second-home-aud8

Socajam

How much is a TV license?
You could divide the licensefee into the number of months the caravan will be rented and add that to the rent - problem solved.

lynseydee

Cornucopia wrote: »

It depends on what type of structure the Holiday Home actually is, and how you will use it.

If it is a House, Flat, Bungalow or Cottage: (I see it's not, but included for completeness)

You will need a separate TV Licence to watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV on any channel or watch and download BBC programmes on iPlayer in your second home. This applies even if you will not be using TV in both properties at the same time.

If it is a Boat or Touring Caravan:

No additional Licence is required - usage is covered by your existing Licence.

Static caravans, Mobile Homes or Moveable Chalets:

Your main home’s TV Licence will cover you unless anyone is watching or recording live TV on any channel or watching or downloading BBC programmes on iPlayer at the same time at your main licensed address. There is a form to declare this kind of usage.


Or:-

You can use equipment powered by its own, internal batteries covered by your Licence from your main home.

You can use TV equipment without a Licence IF you never watch TV broadcast channels and never use BBC iPlayer. (So you can use commercial catch-up, Netflix, Amazon, most of Youtube, DVDs, etc.)

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/second-home-aud8

Cornucopia, this is the information I found on the website. What is confusing me is that it looks like as it's a holiday let I don't need a license but if both homes are being used at the same time (which they would if it was being let out) then I would need a license. It's just the whole clarity around it that is confusing me.

Socajam wrote: »

How much is a TV license?
You could divide the licensefee into the number of months the caravan will be rented and add that to the rent - problem solved.

Socajam, the cost of the license isn't the issue, it's more having to pay out for one if it's not needed. The park deals with the management of renting out the van so there would be no scope to factor it into the rental price.

Cornucopia

lynseydee wrote: »

Cornucopia, this is the information I found on the website. What is confusing me is that it looks like as it's a holiday let I don't need a license but if both homes are being used at the same time (which they would if it was being let out) then I would need a license. It's just the whole clarity around it that is confusing me.

No, the rule refers to you and your household members using both properties at the same time. If the holiday home is being occupied by someone else, then you are not responsible for the TV Licence at that time, and you can use your own TV Licence in your own home without any issues.

p00hsticks

Cornucopia wrote: »

No, the rule refers to you and your household members using both properties at the same time. If the holiday home is being occupied by someone else, then you are not responsible for the TV Licence at that time, and you can use your own TV Licence in your own home without any issues.

But if you're going to provide a TV as part of the furnishings of a holiday let, I'd say that the person renting the home would assume that the TV is licensed and it's ok to use the TV. I certainly would - it;s never even crossed my mind when renting a holiday home for a week or two that includes a TV that it might not have a TV licence!

So if you include a TV when you rent it out (and these days not many holiday homes wouldn't have one unless it;s a 'get-away-from it all' rural retreat), I'd say it the owners job to make sure it's got a licence.

Cornucopia

That's a fair point, and I am talking from the POV of the Licensing rules.

If the market (nationally or locally) expects a TV in a holiday home to be licensed then, yes, that's a consideration.

To complicate matters, I suspect that if the property is let then it ceases to be a holiday/second home for the OP for the duration.

And to complicate matters even further, if the caravan does not have its own postal address then it may be difficult to buy a Licence for it.

Rodders53

Cornucopia wrote: »

And to complicate matters even further, if the caravan does not have its own postal address then it may be difficult to buy a Licence for it.

Plot nnn, The Name of Holiday Park, Somewhere would likely do.

But as the OP's site is run as a Business they may have a site Licence for the rentals? https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/business-and-organisations/hotels-hostels-mobile-units-and-campsites-aud13 which are a bit cheaper. The site should be able to advise more - at least on their interpretation of the Tv licensing rules.

lynseydee

Thank you to everyone who tried to help me with trying to understand if I need a tv licence for my holiday home.

I have had a look at the declaration for not needing a tv licence and, to me, that is proving to be more clear than anything I have found on their website.

This is what is says on the form:-

I certify that:
• Only the people covered by the TV Licence at my home address use television receiving equipment at the above static caravan, mobile home or moveable chalet
• Television receiving equipment is never used at both places at the same time.

So basically if I was just using it for myself I could use my current tv licence to cover the caravan but, as I want to rent it out when I'm not using it, I will need a licence as the tvs would be used at both places at the same time.

Thanks everyone

Cornucopia

Thanks for the update and glad you're happy with the conclusion.


I think I'm just going to add a disclaimer to the thread for the benefit of casual readers that the advice here may not be 100% correct because the holiday home rules are complicated and not explained very well by TV Licensing.

Socajam

lynseydee wrote: »

Thank you to everyone who tried to help me with trying to understand if I need a tv licence for my holiday home.

I have had a look at the declaration for not needing a tv licence and, to me, that is proving to be more clear than anything I have found on their website.

This is what is says on the form:-

I certify that:
• Only the people covered by the TV Licence at my home address use television receiving equipment at the above static caravan, mobile home or moveable chalet
• Television receiving equipment is never used at both places at the same time.

So basically if I was just using it for myself I could use my current tv licence to cover the caravan but, as I want to rent it out when I'm not using it, I will need a licence as the tvs would be used at both places at the same time.

Thanks everyone

That was my point when I wrote previously:

"You could divide the license fee into the number of months the caravan will be rented and add that to the rent - problem solved."