TV licences in care homes: who needs one and who gets free

Care home residents who watch live TV or BBC iPlayer in their own room usually need a licence, and most can get a concessionary Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) licence for £7.50 a room. The resident must be 60 or over and retired, or disabled, and the care home manager normally arranges it. People aged 75 or over who receive Pension Credit can get a free licence instead.

At a glance

• A standard colour TV licence costs £180 a year from 1 April 2026.
• The ARC concession costs £7.50 per room, flat or bungalow, for eligible residents watching in their own accommodation.
• The free licence is for people aged 75 or over who get Pension Credit (or live with a partner who does), and must be applied for.
• A resident who watches only in a shared lounge does not usually need a personal licence for that viewing.
• Do not assume you are covered by an ARC licence until TV Licensing confirms it.

Do care home residents need a TV licence, and what does it cost?

You need a TV licence to watch or record live TV on any channel or service, or to use BBC iPlayer, on any device. Watching without one can lead to a fine of up to £1,000. On-demand services such as Netflix and YouTube do not need one.

In a care home, the question is where the resident watches. Age UK explains that an ARC licence is only needed if you watch TV in your own separate accommodation rather than in a shared space such as the residents’ lounge. The home is responsible for licensing its communal areas. If a resident has a television in their room, they need a suitable licence for that room.

The government confirmed that the colour TV licence rises to £180 a year from 1 April 2026, and a black and white licence costs £60.50. People who are severely sight impaired can apply for a 50% concession, which brings a colour licence to £90. Some TV Licensing pages for care homes may still show the earlier fee, so check the current figure.

What is the ARC licence, and who qualifies?

The ARC licence is a concession for people living in eligible residential care homes, supported housing or sheltered accommodation. It costs £7.50 per room, flat or bungalow. TV Licensing says residents must meet one of two tests.

• Retired: aged 60 or over, with paid work of no more than 15 hours a week.
• Disabled: substantially impaired sight, hearing or speech, a mental disorder, or a substantial physical disability from illness or impairment.

Some residents may keep a concession under what TV Licensing calls preserved rights. The care home manager or warden can check whether your accommodation qualifies and apply on your behalf. TV Licensing says a resident should not assume they are covered by an ARC licence until it is confirmed.

Who gets a free TV licence?

You can get a free TV licence if you are 75 or over and you receive Pension Credit, or you live with a partner who does. The free licence covers everyone at your address. It is not automatic, so you must apply through TV Licensing. If you already get Pension Credit, you can apply at 74, though you must keep paying until the end of the month before your 75th birthday.

A dementia diagnosis does not qualify someone for the free licence on its own, according to the Alzheimer’s Society. Pension Credit is means-tested and has to be claimed separately, so residents who have never claimed it may be missing out. Read our guides to Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit and benefits in a care home to check what may be claimable, and try the Attendance Allowance checker.

Which licence applies in which situation?

If more than one option applies, ask TV Licensing and the home which route to use for that room.

How do you arrange it, and can you get a refund?

1. Ask the home whether the resident’s room qualifies as ARC accommodation.
2. Check the resident meets the age and disability or retirement tests.
3. Check whether they, or a partner, receive Pension Credit and apply for the free licence if so.
4. Ask the manager to arrange the ARC licence, and keep a note of when it is confirmed.
5. If the resident has already paid for a full licence but now qualifies, the manager can submit a resident addition form to the Concessionary Licensing Centre in Darlington, and the resident can ask about a refund.

Check who pays in your contract. Some homes include the licence in fees, others charge separately. See care home contracts, care home fees explained and whether fees are all-inclusive.

What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

TV licensing is a UK-wide system. NIDirect describes the same Pension Credit rule for over-75s in Northern Ireland, and a concessionary licence for residents of eligible care homes, supported housing or sheltered accommodation who are retired and over 60 or disabled. The care home regulator differs by nation, but the licence rules do not.

Frequently asked questions

Do care home residents get a free TV licence?

Only if they are 75 or over and receive Pension Credit, or live with a partner who does. Other eligible residents can usually get the ARC concession at £7.50 per room. Residents who qualify for neither pay the standard fee if they watch live TV in their room.

How much is an ARC licence?

The ARC licence costs £7.50 per room, flat or bungalow. It is for eligible residents in residential care, supported housing or sheltered accommodation who watch TV in their own accommodation. The care home manager normally applies for it.

Does a care home need a TV licence for the lounge?

Yes, if residents watch live TV or iPlayer in shared areas, the home needs a licence for those areas. TV Licensing says communal areas, guest rooms and staff accommodation need a full licence. Residents who only watch in the lounge do not need their own.

Can a care home resident with dementia get a free TV licence?

Not because of the diagnosis alone. The free licence depends on age and Pension Credit. A resident with a mental disorder may still meet the disability test for the ARC concession at £7.50 per room.

What if my relative already paid for a licence?

If they now qualify for an ARC licence, the care home manager can submit a resident addition form to TV Licensing, and the resident can ask for a refund. Contact TV Licensing with the licence details.

Where to get help next

Check what benefits the resident may be missing with the funding checker, and read State Pension and benefits in a care home. If you are comparing homes, Find care lists those near you, and making a room feel like home covers what to bring.

Sources

• GOV.UK: Get a free or discounted TV licence
• GOV.UK: Cost of TV licence fee set for 2026/27
• GOV.UK: TV licensing
• TV Licensing: Care home residents
• TV Licensing: Residential care homes
• Age UK: TV licence concessions

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.