Do you need a TV licence to watch Netflix and other streaming services?

The dreaded energy price cap rise has hit households across the country. From April 1, the price of default energy tariffs will rise by £693, from £1,277 to £1,971.

The move will plunge five million UK households into “fuel stress”, meaning they spend at least 10 per cent of their income on energy bills, according to the Resolution Foundation think tank. This is part of a wider hike in the cost of living, which will force thousands of UK families into poverty.

Scrimping can't offset the effects of such price changes, but desperate families will still be looking for areas to cut back on. It was announced at the start of this year that the price for a TV licence would be capped at £159 for full-colour TVs, but do you know when a TV licence is needed, and when it isn't?

Read more: What movies and TV shows are leaving Netflix in April 2022?

You could be paying for one without really needing to. Here's what you need to be aware of.

No, you don't need a TV licence to watch Netflix. The BBC’s TV Licensing website addresses this directly: “You don’t need a TV Licence if you only ever use Netflix or other online TV services to watch on demand or catch up programmes,” it reads.

You only need a TV licence to watch live TV, so on demand shows (the kind found on Netflix, which aren't streamed live) aren't included.

If you only ever watch Netflix, you could claim back the £159. This extends to other streaming services, like Disney Plus, but there are a couple of exceptions.

Potentially - it depends what you are watching. Amazon Prime offers live TV, which you'd need a TV licence for. But, if you wait until the show is on catch up, you'll only need an Amazon subscription.

Yes, you do – even if you are only watching shows on