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Halls and Tv licences

8 replies

hugoagogo · 21/11/2017 08:55

We looked into this before ds went to halls and were confident ds didn't need one.
Now he is there in a 'cluster flat' in halls, some of his flatmates( not ds) are watching live tv in the kitchen and none of them have a license.
I have looked on mse and on the tv licencing website and can't find an answer.
Could they all end up being fined?
If ds had a licence would that cover all of them? Surely not?

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BubblesBuddy · 21/11/2017 17:00

Ask the accommodation office. They may need one between all of them. Is it not on the university web site or in an info booklet about living in the hall?

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Wildernesstips · 21/11/2017 21:11

I think they all need one. My DS was in a flat last year and had one. Even if they only watch catch up TV, you still need one. You can get a refund for the summer though.

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Auspiciouspanda · 21/11/2017 21:14

When I lived in halls with a kitchen/living room then several rooms in the flats we needed a licence for every room then an extra one for the kitchen.

A rip off basically.

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Auspiciouspanda · 21/11/2017 21:15

And you only need one for 'catch up' if it's BBC. Any of the others (itv etc) you don't need one for.

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hugoagogo · 21/11/2017 21:33

I spoke to tv licence people and basically the kitchen should come under the communal areas licence that the landlord has, so no probs.
Ds definitely doesn't need one as he just watches catch up or Netflix, phew.
There is a lot of misinformation out there it seems, ds was in a bit of a flap.

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BubblesBuddy · 21/11/2017 23:18

There is a communal one then? Has that been confirmed by the university?

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loopsdefruit · 22/11/2017 00:57

If they are watching while the laptop/ipad/phone is 'free' so not plugged in to the mains then they are covered by their parent's tv license as long as they meet the following conditions:

Only use a device powered by internal batteries

They did not connect device to aerial or plugged into mains

Their permanent (out of term-time) address is their parents' home

Their parents home has a tv license

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37243332

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hugoagogo · 22/11/2017 07:35

It's not owned by the university, but yes I have confirmed with the landlord about communal areas.
The tv in question was very much plugged in, and ancient.