This has being a question that baffles most tenants as to whom is the responsibility of when it comes to providing TV Licenses. According to the law which states that, if landlords do not provide a TV license, then it is the responsibility of the tenant to purchase one.
In the UK, the rules governing TV licensing states that “As a landlord, you need to make sure that the property is covered by a valid TV licence, if you have provided the tenant a means to record or watch television programmes as they are shown on TV. This include devices such as computer, mobile phones, TV, Digital box, game console or DVD/VHS recorder.
Providing a TV license now becomes your responsibility (the landlord) if you have installed a TV. It only becomes the responsibility of the tenant only if it has been specified in the tenancy agreement.”
Where it becomes quite worrying is when an old TV is left in the rental property by landlords just as an add-on or simply to avoid the hassle of getting rid of it themselves.
Do not do this as a landlord maybe out of kindness or as an incentive to the property because it may backfire on you. If you provide the tenant with a TV, then you would have to provide them with a valid TV licence too. As stated above, the only in this case the tenant will have to acquire a TV licence is when it is stated in the tenancy agreement.
But tenants are not totally absolved because the TV licensing body state that “Tenants which include student tenants are to ensure that TV used in the rental property is validly licensed even if it was supplied by the landlord.”
If you are a landlord with a number of tenants who have a joint tenancy agreement, then you can provide only one TV licence but if each tenant has a different tenancy agreement, then you are expected to provide a different license for each of them.
Can the Tenant be a charge for the TV Licence?
Some landlords do charge for TV license fee in the form of slightly higher rent or service charge if they left a TV in their property. They do this to absorb the cost onto the tenant.
Lodgers and TV Licenses
Each lodger who rents your property either under a private agreement or Government’s rent a room scheme is to have their own TV licence if they have a TV. There is some exception to this: if the lodger is in a relationship with you and living with you, is cook/au pair/housekeeper or a family member.