Is a TV Licence Necessary for a Holiday Home?

The simple answer is yes. If you have devices that play or stream live TV programmes you are still legally required to have a separate TV licence for your holiday home, no matter how infrequent they are used.

Your TV will not cover your holiday home even if it is attached to your permanent place of residence. There are certain guidelines for businesses which is useful for those homeowners with multiple holiday homes.

It’s imperative you get a licence as Enquiry Officers do visit properties, especially holiday homes that they suspect are watching TV without a licence. If you are caught without a licence, you’ll be fined up to £1,000.

With hefty fines looming it’s worth having a clear outline of what you need to know about holding a TV licence for your holiday home.

When Do You Need a TV Licence?

You must have a TV licence if:

· Live TV programmes on any channel are watched or recorded.

· Programmes on BBC iPlayer are downloaded or watched live.

When is a Licence Not Required

· On-demand or catch-up programmes (on Sky, Netflix, Amazon etc.)

· Listening to the radio on iPlayer.

· Playing videos on YouTube

· CCTV Footage.

Guests can stream programmes from their own device but there are some restrictions. For instance, the device they’re streaming programmes from cannot be connected to the mains! And they must have a TV licence for their own address.

How Much Does a TV Licence Cost?

For those with holiday home(s), you will need to purchase a single television licence known as a Hotel and Mobile Units TV Licence. This costs £147 per year and covers up to 15 units, any more than that and you’ll have to purchase another licence.

If you choose to let guests stay longer than 28 days, you will have to purchase a standard TV licence.

You have a variety of ways in which you can pay for this, either:

· Yearly at £147

· Quarterly from £38

· Monthly from £12.25

· Weekly or Fortnightly from £6

Businesses & TV Licenses

For hospitality businesses there are certain requirements and savings on offer, depending on the number of properties you own.

If you only have the one property, you’ll just need a TV licence that covers each person and device at that address. Calculate this by stating the maximum amount of people that can stay at the property.

If you have more than one holiday let you can purchase a ‘multiple licence’ which saves you buying one for each address.

Ultimately

If your holiday home has access to live TV programmes, then you are required to get a TV licence. It’s better to be covered than left facing hefty fines.

Although a TV isn’t an essential item, most holidaymakers would expect one. They can be a great distraction for those with small children and provide entertainment for those wishing to have a cosy night in.

Plus, the cost of a TV licence is a taxable write off. Such payments are made for the running of the business. This perk enables you to save some cash and increase your overall revenue!