At one second past midnight on September 1, you risked a £1,000 fine plus whatever legal costs and/or compensation you may be ordered to pay if you watched iPlayer without a Boob tube licence.

Except, possibly you don't.

Because while the regime announced the change was to close a loophole that permit people watch the BBC without stumping up the money for a TV licence that paid for it'due south programmes – they missed a different loophole entirely.

And because of that, if you follow the rules TV licensing has confirmed to Mirror Coin, yous can keep watching Bake Off, EastEnders, Strictly and more than without paying a penny.

How this all happened

Is it fair to lookout things free other people's TV Licences paid for?

The TV licence pays for the BBC. It is charged to every home watching or recording live Boob tube.

But people only watching DVDs, Netflix, Amazon Prime and diverse catch-up services have always been exempt from paying it.

While that all seems logical, iPlayer – which shows the BBC programmes the licence fee pays for – was also available to lookout free-of-charge to non-licence-fee payers.

"The BBC works on the basis that all who watch it pay for it," John Whittingdale, and so culture secretary, said in March.

"Giving a costless ride to those who relish Sherlock or Bake Off an hr, a day or a week later on they are circulate was never intended and is wrong."

To ready that, they inverse the rules so people watching iPlayer had to have a Boob tube Licence too.

There's simply ane problem – they missed a different loophole.

The new iPlayer loophole

Subsequently battery-powered, hand-held TVs showtime came out a rule was put in the small print of the licence fee terms and conditions.

To end people needing a split up licence to lookout man one of these when away from abode – say on holiday in their caravan – an exemption was made to people using them outside their home.

The problem is that times take changed. At present a whole host of devices with batteries can receive telly (and iPlayer) including laptops, tablets and phones.

The practiced news – that means they might be exempt too.

Will students have to pay the new fee?

No licence needed for them! (

Image:

Getty)

First things first – this won't piece of work for everyone. Nearly people will still need a Tv licence to picket or record live Television receiver or view programmes on iPlayer.

But a lucky few – predominantly students – take wiggle room.

TV licensing confirmed that you are exempt if:

  • You only always use a device that is powered past its internal batteries to watch live TV or lookout and download programmes on BBC iPlayer; and

  • You have not continued it to an aerial or plugged information technology into the mains to receive TV; and

  • Your permanent address (outside term fourth dimension) is your parents' home; and

  • Your parents have a valid TV Licence.

"Students are not covered by their parents' licence, unless the pupil only ever uses devices that are powered solely by their ain internal batteries (not plugged into an aerial or the mains) and if their permanent address is their parents' habitation," a spokesman for TV Licensing told Mirror Money.

You tin phone call 0300 790 6113 to check if this exemption applies to you lot or find out more by heading to tvlicensing.co.great britain/studentinfo

Other ways to escape the licence fee

With the single exception of using iPlayer, if you lot're not watching or recording alive TV, you don't need a licence.

So catch-up TV services run by other channels, streaming or downloading programmes after they've been shown or programmes available online before existence shown on TV don't count.

That ways you don't need a Tv set licence to spotter:

  • Non-BBC on need services – including catch-up Television and on demand previews – similar, ITV Player , All4 , My5 , BT Vision/BT TV , Virgin Media , Sky Go , At present Television , Apple tree TV , Chromecast , Roku and Amazon Fire Television set .

  • On demand movies from providers like Sky, Virgin Media, BT Vision, Netflix and Amazon Instant Video .

  • Recorded films and programmes either from a disc (e.g. DVD or Blu-ray) or downloaded from the internet.

  • On need internet video clips through services similar YouTube.

If you don't scout or record live TV on any device, or use iPlayer, you can permit TV Licensing know by completing a declaration here .

Only be careful, because while information technology'southward possible, right now very few people fall into that category.

"Whatever device you are using and however you're watching, you lot need to exist licensed to picket programmes at the aforementioned time as they are shown on TV, or alive on an online TV service. Fewer than 2% of households only watch catch-up Tv so don't need a licence," a spokeswoman from Television Licensing told Mirror Money .

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When you absolutely Do need a Idiot box licence

Anyone watching or recording live Tv broadcasts needs to have a TV licence – no affair what they're watching it on – or they could get a hefty fine.

That means watching on a phone, laptop or tablet however counts as long every bit it's broadcast. Yup, even using someone else'southward SkyGo login at home ways you demand one as licences are tied to addresses.

If you're in a shared house, you might well be able to get away with one licence for the firm - rather than one each – simply in most every other case you'll need a licence unless you never watch circulate Tv.

But there'south some skillful news - while y'all need a licence, you might not need to pay full cost for one.

Legal Telly licence discounts

As TV licences use to addresses, not individuals, as long as someone qualifying for a disbelieve lives at your accost and the licence is in their name, the whole business firm benefits.

And so who gets a disbelieve? Well, older Britons don't demand a TV licence.

That means when you reach the age of 75, you tin can utilize for a free over 75 TV Licence . They last 3 years and will be sent out provided you give them your national insurance number. In fact, if you're 74, you tin can even utilise for a short-term licence to cover up up until your 75th altogether.

Secondly, while it's not free, merely anyone who'due south blind (severely sight impaired) tin can get half price Goggle box licences . Again, this means the remainder of the business firm is covered too.

If you're renting, you don't need a carve up TV licence for your room if you have a relationship with the homeowner (and live in their main house) or a joint tenancy agreement - only do need one if yous take a separate tenancy agreement for only your room.

There are also other times you might exist able to get money back on the £145.50 - for case if yous're a student you tin can get a £37 refund .

What your licence covers

If y'all live somewhere with a TV licence, y'all don't need another if you're watching TV on a device that runs on batteries elsewhere (ie a tablet, phone or handheld Tv set) every bit long equally information technology'due south not plugged into the mains.

If yous're on (or own) a boat or touring caravan you also don't need a new TV licence to watch telly in that either.

You're as well covered for static caravans, mobile homes and movable chalets - provided no one is at home watching Television while you're using them. If someone is at the main address, you demand to fill out a declaration course .

However, if you have a second or vacation house, flat, bungalow or cottage then that needs its ain TV licence if you lot're going to lookout live (or recorded live) TV at that place - no matter what device it'south on.