Hi
I have to be at the address I care at 90% if the time . I’ve just finally been able to buy my own house again but I cannot move into it yet for a couple of months because of needing to be here . It is empty but I’m trying when I can to visit and make it a future home soon .
I never watch tv at all if any kind at that address . I have no tv there.
I do watch it sometimes at the address I care at which is about 10 miles away . There is no licence here as the owner who I care for is over 75 .
Since I have lived here for several years I was covered. But since buying my own home I wonder if I still am ?
I don’t need a licence at a house I never watch tv at clearly , and I think I should be still ok to watch it with the person I care for at their address .
What should I do ?
I can’t get to speak to a human at tv licence so I thought I’d just ask here .
Has anyone here been in same situation ?
Thanks
@Bonny_2011
If the person you care for is over 75 and receives pension credit you don’t need a license
- as far as I’m aware, your residence is where you live majority of the time.
It’s worth being aware of council tax reductions and exemptions - especially if you’ve got an ‘empty house’
If you have reduced council tax and considered to be residing in the home of your caree then that’s a second reason why you don’t need a tv license in your ‘empty’ home…
- FYI free TV license is only for over 75s with pension credit (don’t get me started on unfairness of this!)
I googled for my Mum who is over 75 and NOT receiving pension credit
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ331#:~:text=Anyone%20aged%20over%2075%20and,pay%20for%20a%20TV%20licence.
Age uk Factsheet 21 Council Tax May 2024
Martin lewis council tax discounts
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/council-tax-discounts/
Hello, Bonny. If the house you are buying does not have a TV, then you, quite simply, do not need a licence for that address. It is the building that needs the licence, not you as an individual.
Once you install a TV there and start to use it, then you will need a licence, even if you still spend most of your time at the caring address.
The house where you are caring needs its own licence. Since it has had a licence over several years, you have nothing to worry about as long as the licence is renewed annually. It is the owner’s responsibility to license the property, not yours.
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Hi Bonny
If you don’t have a TV or watch television programmes on a laptop or phone then you don’t need a licence, but you do need to make a declaration to the authority every 2 years that this is the case.
My son hates TV and has no means of watching it in his flat, but is pestered with letters to keep renewing the declaration.
I have no TV but I watch on my phone, so I have bought a licence for my house.