TV licence

tee-VEE LY-sens

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What it really means

A yearly fee required by law to watch live TV on any channel or use BBC iPlayer — even on a laptop or phone. In a joint tenancy one licence covers the house; in some room-only lets each room needs its own. Check the rules at tvlicensing.co.uk.

Chinese explanation

法律规定观看任何频道的直播电视或使用 BBC iPlayer（哪怕在电脑或手机上）都须每年缴纳的执照费。联合租约一份执照覆盖全屋；某些单间出租则每个房间各需一份。规则见 tvlicensing.co.uk。

Example conversation

A: I only watch iPlayer on my laptop — do I need a TV licence? B: Yes, iPlayer needs a licence even without a TV. Check the official site.

A：我只在笔记本上看 iPlayer——也要买电视执照吗？ B：要，就算没有电视，用 iPlayer 也需要执照。查一下官网。

What you could say back

“Does one licence cover our whole house share?”

Related phrases

Broadband House share

Official sources

Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.

Go deeper

Council Tax Explained: What Newcomers Need to Know How Renting Works in the UK: A Step-by-Step Guide UK Utility Bills: Setting Up Energy, Water, Broadband and the TV Licence

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Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team · Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake