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TV licence: Can inspectors visit your house and what are their rights?

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The TV licence fee has been increased for 2021, meaning it now costs £159 a year to watch television in your home.

The fee pays for the BBC – so even if you just watch iPlayer or online shows via BBC Three , you’re not exempt from the fee.

While old-fashioned fears about mysterious figures in vans searching for errant households are a figment of the imagination, TV licence inspectors are a very real thing.

Find out what to expect if a visiting officer comes to your door.

Can TV licence inspectors visit your house?

Inspectors can visit your house, although you’re likely to receive a letter before this point.

You can refuse to let an inspector in, but this might lead to them getting a court order – which means they would be allowed to enter by law without your permission.

According to the TV Licensing service, letters are sent to all homes that don’t have a TV Licence , and may get ‘progressively stronger’ if no reply is received.

The service takes into account the possibility that people may have forgotten to pay, or simply don’t watch television .

However, if the letters are ignored, inspectors may come to investigate the situation.

What happens when a TV licence inspector visits your house?

If an inspector visits your home, expect them to look for evidence of a television set up – and ask you about whether you use catch-up services like iPlayer.

They will check for TV-receiving equipment, and ask for a signature from you, confirming their notes.

Sorry, this video isn't available any more.

Visiting officers may interview an individual they suspect to have committed an offence under the Communications Act 2003, but only after they have cautioned that person.

The visit is likely to be quick, and they should ‘avoid threatening or intimidating behaviour’.

What are the rights of a TV Licence inspector?

TV Licence inspectors can’t visit your house when you’re not present unless they have a warrant from a magistrate (or a sheriff in Scotland).

In these cases, the visiting officers will be accompanied by the police.

In most cases however, the inspectors will show you two forms of ID on your doorstep, and enter the property only when given permission.

They have to ‘respect people’s rights to privacy and confidentiality ’, but they may wear a body camera during the process.

MORE : How much is the TV licence fee in 2021 and what happens if you don’t pay?

MORE : Simon Cowell ‘working on a few TV projects’ as X Factor’s future remains uncertain

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TV Licensing - Enforcement

Who is responsible for tv licence enforcement.

TV Licensing is responsible for enforcing the TV licence in the UK. The job of investigation and collection has been contracted out to Capita PLC .

TVL enforces the law through a combination of letters containing escalating threats of legal action and home visits by Capita TV Inspectors.

Visiting officers are engaged by Capita Business Services Ltd (“Capita”), a company contracted by the BBC to administer the television licensing system under the BBC trade mark 'TV Licensing'.

Citizen’s rights

This website was published in support of honest people who genuinely believe they do not require a TV licence and wish to remain within the law.

If a householder is following the rules for viewing and setting up their TV equipment without a TV licence, they should have no need to worry too much about TVL letters or visits. However, even when obeying the law, citizens are entitled to know the rules on TV Licensing and also their rights if they are visited by TV Licence Inspectors.

TV Licensing letters

TVL sends out thousands of letters every week to homes and business premises that are shown on their database as not having a TV licence.

Quite often, legal letters are also sent to people who have already declared that they do not require a TV licence, requesting that they purchase a new one.

Where a formal declaration has been made to TVL that a TV licence is not required then these letters can either be ignored or a complaint made to TVL requesting that they stop sending them.

More Info: TVL Website: Administering the licence fee: Mailings/letters and electronic communications

TVL home visits

TV Licence Inspectors make random house calls on addresses that are shown on the TVL database as not having a TV licence. This sometimes includes householders who have formally declared themselves to TVL as not requiring a TV licence.

According to the TVL website, TV Licence Inspectors must immediately identify themselves, prove their identity by showing their card and state the purpose of their visit. They must also provide a telephone number when requested so that the person being visited can confirm the the identity of the inspector.

TVL appears to pursue a general policy of guilty until proven innocent and will not regard a property as being legally unlicensed until an inspector has visited and physically checked TV equipment for compliance with the law.

When a TV Licence Inspector is sent to an address, the householder will be regarded as a potential suspect until proven otherwise. In such circumstances, the householder is effectively the subject of a criminal investigation and it pays to bear this in mind should an inspector ever call.

See the extract below, drawn directly from the TVL website.

Visiting officers may interview an individual they suspect to have committed an offence under the Communications Act 2003 but only after they have cautioned that person i.e. informed them of their legal rights, including that they have the right not to answer any of the questions. This is in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 or the Scottish criminal law. An officer is obliged to make a written record of that interview and an individual has the right to refuse to sign the record or to ask for corrections to be made if they believe that it is not an accurate record of the interview.

TVL interviews and powers of entry

Householders are not obliged to say anything when questioned by a TV Licence Inspector. There is no law that requires a householder to make a verbal or written statement in relation to an enquiry about a TV licence.

TV Licence Inspectors have no right of entry into a person’s home without a search warrant issued by a magistrate. Warrants are rarely issued to TVL, so unless an inspector claims to be in possession a warrant and can produce the genuine article, they have no power of entry.

The law states that if a TV License Inspector suspects a householder of a having committed a criminal offence then they should immediately caution the householder in a manner similar to that stated below:-

“You do not have to say anything. But, it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”

When a TV Licence Inspector questions a householder, they generally complete a form 178 which is a record of what was found at the address and what was said by the householder. A householder is under no legal obligation to sign a Form 178 or any other form presented by TVL.

You have no obligation to grant entry to a visiting officer if you don’t wish to do so. If refused entry by the occupier, the visiting officer will leave the property.

Dealing with TVL

A householder is under no lawful obligation whatsoever to voluntarily answer any questions, sign any documents or allow TVL entry into their home without a search warrant.

The question of whether or not a householder voluntarily offers a verbal statement, signs a document or consents to TVL entering their home is purely a matter for them, based on their own views on the matter and possibly also the information we have provided on this website.

Here are some of the reasons we have heard householders give for declining to voluntarily cooperate with TV Licence Inspectors who are not in possession of a search warrant:-

They object to being interviewed on their doorstep or in their home without formal audio recording equipment or a legal representative present.

They object to what they regard as an unwarranted invasion of the privacy of their homes.

They feel they are being unfairly accused of dishonesty after formally declaring themselves not requiring a TV licence.

They are concerned that they might be tricked into a false or unfair admission of guilt.

They fear signing any documents that they don’t fully understand and which might be used to unfairly incriminate them.

They fear that legally unlicensed TV equipment will be tampered with in order to secure an unfair prosecution against them.

We are not claiming any of the above to be true, simply repeating some the responses we have seen and heard from householders online and in emails as a result of running this website.

Be sure to read the section below on search warrants as a search warrant changes matters significantly.

What evidence does TVL generally look for?

Here are some of the things that TVL inspectors might look for and some of the ways they might attempt to discover if any offences have been committed in the absence of a TV Licence:-

Questioning of householders at the door or in their homes in order to obtain a verbal admission of any offences committed.

Filling out a Form 178 record of interview, which is then offered to the householder to voluntarily sign in confirmation of what has been said. This can be later be used as evidence against the householder in any subsequent court proceedings.

Requesting the householder’s consent to enter their home to inspect television equipment for evidence of any offences committed. Or, alternatively, gaining access with a legitimate search warrant.

Inspecting television equipment for any connected TV aerial or satellite cables as evidence that a TV receiver is “installed” for viewing or recording live TV.

Inspecting television equipment to see if the TV is still programmed with a list of live TV channels.

Powering on television equipment and attempting to receive a live broadcast signal from the TV aerial or satellite dish.

Checking a Smart TV to see if it has any apps installed and activated with an online account that deliver “exclusively” live broadcast content.

Note that the BBC iPlayer app cannot be removed from some Smart TVs and on-demand devices. The presence of this app does not of itself constitute an offence, so long as it has not been primed with an active online BBC iPlayer account in preparation for viewing.

TVL search warrants and obstruction

TVL can apply for a search warrant from a magistrate if it has evidence that a householder is watching or recording live TV or BBC iPlayer without a licence.

TVL states on its website that TV Inspectors will be accompanied by local police officers when executing a search warrant and that in certain circumstances TVL may require the police to force entry. In practise forced entry is rarely, if ever, actually carried out.

If you refuse your name, the police have the power to arrest you to establish your identity.

It is an offence to wilfully obstruct a TVL search warrant. A householder refusing entry to their home, refusing to identify themselves or refusing access for checking TV equipment might also face a charge of obstructing a search warrant.

A householder is not obliged in law to answer any questions or sign any document during the execution of a TVL search warrant.

It is advisable for a householder to briefly answer any questions directly related to the checking of TV equipment. This is mainly to avoid any charges of obstruction.

TV Licensing is only allowed to physically check your TV and TV recording equipment, not any computers or mobile phones but they will take note if any computers are attached to a live TV feed such as a TV aerial.

You may be requested to turn on your television. If you refuse then TVL will likely attempt it themselves.

If the householder feels so inclined, there is no law that prevents the filming of a search warrant being executed using a video camera or smartphone, so long as any filming does not materially obstruct TV Licence Inspectors in the execution of their duty.

If a householder has strictly followed the recommendations on this website regarding viewing habits and television equipment and has not obstructed the search warrant then no offences will have been committed, hence no prosecution either.

An application to a magistrate (or sheriff in Scotland) for a search warrant may only be made when there is good reason to believe that an offence has been committed, evidence of the commission of that offence is likely to be found, and conditions regarding access to the property warrant the granting of a search warrant.

Reasons for conviction

TV licence related convictions generally occur because of one or more of the reasons below:-

A householder voluntarily provides a verbal admission of illegal activity on the doorstep or inside the property being visited.

A TV Licence Inspector has detected evidence of illegal activity through a window or open door, such as observing that a TV aerial or satellite cable is connected to the television set

A TV Licence Inspector has physically seen or heard that a householder is viewing or recording live TV or BBC iPlayer.

TVL is granted voluntary access and TV equipment is found to be illegally installed.

TVL obtains a search warrant and TV equipment is found to be illegally installed.

One of the main ways that TVL establishes guilt is to check the TV equipment for any live TV that has been recorded. This is why it’s so important to remove any TV aerial and satellite connector cables and any live TV or satellite boxes from your TV unit and place them well beyond use.

People who fail to observe the rules on viewing TV and setting up TV equipment correctly when not in possession of a TV licence are placing themselves at risk of prosecution.

Play by the rules, then you can never be prosecuted for TV licence evasion.

Innocence and good intentions

If a householder has acted with good intentions and has followed the rules on viewing TV without a licence, they will be innocent of any offence and should have nothing to fear from TVL. Even in the highly unlikely event of a search warrant being taken out against them.

Ideally, a householder would have done the following prior to any visits from TVL:-

• Cancelled their TV licence and declared themselves not requiring a TV licence.
• Removed their TV aerial and satellite connector cables and placed them beyond use.
• Removed any satellite boxes or other live TV equipment and placed it beyond use.
• Avoided viewing or recording any live TV or accessing BBC iPlayer.
• Viewed only on-demand TV.

TV detector vans and tools

For many years, TVL has claimed to run a fleet of detector vans.

There is not one case so far known where TV detector van evidence has been presented by the prosecution in a court of law in the UK. TVL claims this is because detector van evidence is only ever presented in order to obtain a search warrant.

TVL also claims that necessary evidence to secure a conviction is subsequently obtained via a search warrant, removing the need to offer detector van evidence during a court case.

There many accusations laid against TVL that detector vans do not and never have worked and are in fact no more than a scare tactic. TVL claims it has advanced detection technology but many question the validity of the science behind it and the likelihood that such TV detection technology could actually work with modern television designs.

In the absence of hard scientific evidence either way, only the individual can decide what to think and believe about the effectiveness of TV detector vans and technology.

Most importantly, if householders stick to the recommendations on this website in relation to legal TV viewing habits then any detection technology that might exist should offer them nothing to fear.

Source: TVL Website: Administering the licence fee: Detection

Withdrawal of implied right of access

There has been a trend in recent years for a minority of householders to remove TV Licensing’s “implied right of access” onto the grounds their property.

This method is otherwise known as W.O.I.R.A. for short and can simply be carried out by writing to TVL, telling them that consensual access to the property in questions has been lawfully withdrawn.

This is a legally effective solution in lawfully preventing routine visits from TVL, however, sometimes TV Licence Inspectors simply disregard it.

In some parts of the country TVL has successfully used the existence of a W.O.I.R.A. notice as a reason for a magistrate to issue a search warrant in order to gain access to a property. In this sense, a W.O.I.R.A. would appear to be more or less a self-defeating exercise.

Much is written about this on the internet and a W.O.I.R.A. should only ever be considered in extreme cases of harassment. Such a notice may be best taken out with the help of a qualified solicitor to advise on and oversee any such procedure.

Court proceedings

This website provides useful information on the TV licence for UK citizens but we cannot comment or offer advice to citizens on individual court cases.

Where a householder has been prosecuted for a TV licence related offence, they should seek the services of a qualified solicitor immediately. This is particularly so where a householder believes themselves to be innocent of any offence. An alternative first port of call might be the Citizen’s Advice Bureaux and this should also be done without delay.

Further reading

Please support us , we rely on your support to keep this service running..

TV Licensing

• Introduction
• Enforcement
• Cancellation
• Statute Law

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We are a voluntary group set up to provide information on TV Licensing law and procedure. We are do not provide legal advice to individuals but the information we provide is aimed is to assist the public in remaining within the law.

Our Mission

Our aim is to educate the public about the rules in relation to TV Licensing. We seek to prevent needless criminal prosecutions, particularly of the vulnerable in our society.

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What can / do TV License inspectors actually do?

QuimReaper · 16/02/2024 11:08

(I meant to add, I have live TV available via my Virgin subscription, but haven't watched it once since moving in over 10 weeks ago.)

Do not open the door to them. They do not have access rights to your home. Its bullying and intimidation really. Just tell them officially via website/their form that you do not require a licence. Its utter madness when you really think about the tv licence

There’s a few videos on YouTube about the legalities of not having a TV license and how to deal legally with any license inspection. As @Janelle7 says they have no legal right of entry so never open the door. Just inform the BBC you no longer require a license.

You don't need to open the door. You can go to the TV licence site to declare you don't need a licence. They'll write to you every 2 years to ask you to make a new declaration.

They’re basically just pushy salespeople, you don’t have to let them in unless they have a warrant (very rare) ive been legally license free for years, the one time I had one knock on the door, I said no thank you and just shut the door

That's what I thought, thanks - I was just curious as to what they can / do do if they do get in. There's really nothing conclusive they can prove is there, in the smart TV era? So it really is just a strong-arm.

You live in a flat - is it a block of flats or a house split into 2 flats ? i could guess if in a block that there may be a communal aerial ( even if you use it or not ) so how can they prove it is you that a) has a tv and b) is watching a tv

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It's a house split into two flats: but isn't that business about how they can tell what the aerial picks up total myth anyway?

My friend got caught using Iplayer because they monitor IP addresses. She had to get a licence or be fined. If you genuinely don't need one you can register as exempt. Do not let them in. These letters are awful, my DS gets them at uni.

"I basically never use the BBC except to catch up on Graham Norton or Have I Got News For You, and half the time I do that at my partner's house anyway. " So you are watching it. Unlicensed.

Make sure you stick to the rules. No live tv. No bbc programmes, no iplayer and you will be fine. Remove the aerial from the back of the telly!

No live TV includes eg watching live sport on streaming services like Amazon Prime.

Seeline · 16/02/2024 12:05

Surely that’s covered by your Amazon Prime subscription?

Don't open the door. You're supposed to have a license to watch BBC iPlayer or any live TV. But just say you don't watch them and close the door.

tanstaafl · 16/02/2024 12:30

you need a licence for any live tv (even foreign channels or things showing live on prime) which is ridiculous but it is what it is.

Just don't answer the door to them and if you do inadvertently, just don't sign anything. I'm sure I read somewhere that they can't take you to Court if you don't sign the declaration thing. I haven't had a TV licence for years. I watch the odd BBC thing occasionally and just tick the box saying "yes I have a tv licence". Been doing that for a good few years and nothing ever happens. The odd letter. If they ever did visit I imagine they've given up by now!

This is an interesting thread! I've never considered it before tbh as we do have a license, but I've always wondered what we bother for. I think the live sport one would be a clincher in our house anyway as we do watch that

EndlesslyDistracted · 16/02/2024 12:01

No, she did not. The BBC has absolutely no way to link IP addresses to physical addresses, let alone individual people. That's if they even monitor traffic on the iPlayer site in the first place, which there is nothing whatsoever to suggest they actually do. Even assuming your ISP broke the law and divulged that information to Capita, it is wholly insufficient in evidential terms for them to secure a prosecution, as simply proving an IP address was accessing a site does not prove where the access was taking place, or who was responsible. It's common for the exact same IP to be issued to several physical addresses at once. She may well have been fined, but it was not because Capita "traced" her IP address on the iPlayer website.

No - your Prime subscription pays Prime to provide the programmes. It doesn't cover any other areas. Any live TV requires a TV licence

They don't track by IP addresses. They do now monitor the email address you use to log in to iplayer and if it matches an email address you have used to register not needing a TV licence or have previously used to buy a TV licence and then stop and send you a snotty email.

Seeline · 16/02/2024 12:42

Wow. So better to view it as a State TV license ( tax ) with conditions.

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If you hand on heart say that you don't watch any live TV, BBC news, the World Cup, Euro's, Wimbledon, the Olympics or Commonwealth Games and you genuinely don't use iPlayer then don't get a licence and don't open the door / let them in if they come knocking. Aside from the services above, don't forget BBC radio services. Use of these aren't monitored but are licence fee funded. As someone who lives in a house with CBeebies on a constant loop, uses Bitesize for homework help, only listens to BBC radio as I cannot stand the commercial channels and enjoys watching major sporting events live, I have no problem with paying my licence fee and feel I get good value for money from it.

Floopani · 16/02/2024 12:44

Indeed The "I have a TV licence/I do not have a TV Licence" prompt when you go to the iPlayer site is nothing more than an automated checkbox that diverts you to the licence sign-up page if you declare that you do not own a licence. If you are stupid enough to supply an email address to Capita in your declaration that you do not require a licence, then subsequently attempt to log in to iPlayer using the same email address, it's the familiar email that triggers a written warning to your postal address, not any sort of IP monitoring.

Look up Blackbelt Barrister on you tube he has videos on TV license/Capita and what they can and can't do,

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TV Licence Home Visits Are Back, In Pursuit Of Fee Evaders

The TV licensing inspectors, whose job it is to catch fee evaders, are now visiting homes again – following the suspension of their visits during the last lockdown.

The TV Licensing body normally employs visiting officers who are tasked with finding people who are legally required to pay the fee.

These visiting officers, upon agreement from the person living in the house, “take a brief view of the main living areas to verify whether or not television receiving equipment is installed or in use” (though safety restrictions have now been made – see ahead).

Earlier this year, we reported that those visits were suspended due to lockdown and covid restrictions – but we have confirmed with the TV Licensing body that their officers are making house visits again, in line with Covid restrictions and safety measures.

The TV Licence fee is used to fund the BBC, and currently stands at £159/year.  Anyone who watches the BBC live, or streams it via BBC iPlayer, has to pay the fee. 

Furthermore, if you watch any live TV from any broadcaster (even an international one) – you also need to pay the fee (See our full  guide on whether you need to pay the TV Licence fee  or not).

Failure to pay the TV licence fee is currently a criminal offence (though there have been ongoing talks about possible decriminalisation ), and evaders can end up paying a fine of up to £1,000 or even go to jail, in rare cases. 

What Are TV Licence Inspectors?

The TV Licensing body, along with Capita (a private contractor responsible for the enforcement of the TV licence fee), employ inspectors who are tasked with finding people who are trying to evade the fee.

In the past, they have also claimed to have sophisticated “detection” equipment, such as vans and handheld devices that, when in proximity to your house, can supposedly detect that you’re watching live TV (or the BBC via other means).

When an inspector visits your home, it’s up to the owner/tenant to allow the officer to enter the house, at which point the officer will take a look inside (searching for a TV), and will possibly interview the person who opened the door (depending on current pandemic restrictions).

The only case where an officer can enter your home without your permission, is when he is authorised to do so under a search warrant granted by a magistrate (or sheriff in Scotland). He will then also be accompanied by the police.

TV Licence Visit Safety Restrictions

As mentioned, these home visits were suspended during the UK lockdowns. Recently, however, they have returned – with some restrictions still in place.

A BBC spokesperson told Cord Busters that Visiting Officers have received comprehensive safety training, and are equipped with masks, gloves, sanitisers and wipes.

Additional new measures have been introduced to protect both staff and the customers, such as maintaining a 2-meter distance at all times and not entering people’s homes.

The BBC say they “will continue to follow government guidance to ensure that all visits are safe and Covid-secure”, which may also suggest in-home inspections will return at some point.

What About Home Visits For The Over-75s?

As we reported yesterday, there have also been enforcement changes with the Over-75s population, who are no longer exempt from paying the licence fee (unless they receive Pension Credit).

The BBC announced that the extended transition period is now over, and “reminder” letters will be sent to homes of those who haven’t settled their licence yet.

It remains unclear whether home visits for the over-75s will take place, and in what form exactly.

The BBC tells us that no visits have been authorised so far. However, in the autumn, the BBC will start implementing “customer care visits”, which are meant to “support older customers who require further assistance. 

“Customer care visits differ from enforcement visits, as they have been carefully designed for those who may require further assistance in making arrangements for their TV Licence, and they will be carried out by a specially trained customer care team.”

It remains to be seen how these visits will differ, in practice, from regular home enforcement visits.

You can find out more information about home visits on the official TV Licensing website .

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What To Do When The TV License Inspector Calls

The rules around TV licensing are old-fashioned and more complicated than you might imagine; in some cases, you need a license even if you don't have a tv, and in other cases, you can have a TV and not need a license. The key to deciding which camp you fall into is whether or not you watch terrestrial content as it is broadcast. If you do, the chances are you need a license. But in this age of catch-up, on-demand and Netflix, it's more likely than ever before that you can stay in touch with civilisation without needing a tv license at all. The TV License, currently set at £145.50 for colour and £49 for black and white (we said it was quite an old-fashioned system), is there to fund the BBC.

The beeb outsources the collection of the fee to third-party companies, including Capita. This, combined with the fact that one historically doesn't have a choice about whether to pay for the BBC, is why a lot of people object to paying the license fee. To be fair to the BBC, that £145.50 does include all live, online and radio content, so all told, it's not a bad deal, especially if you attend any of the free events, such as performances by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

However, you can consume all of that lovely, lovely content without necessarily requiring a license. If you have a television set but it cannot receive live broadcasts, you don't need a license. So, if your TV isn't connected to an aerial, digital or cable service, you don't need a license. You may wish to pay for one anyway since you are still using BBC content, but you don't need one. Similarly, if you don't own a TV but do use iPlayer, radio and online content, you don't need a license, provided you don't watch live broadcasts from any terrestrial broadcaster, not just the BBC.

You don't need to buy a TV License if...

• * You don't own a TV set and don't watch live terrestrial TV broadcasts.
• * Your TV is used solely for watching catch-up and on-demand content.
• * You are over 75. You still need a license, but it's free.

You do need to buy a TV License if...

• * You watch live broadcasts of any type on any device.
• * You record live broadcasts of any type on any device.
• * You pay to watch TV as it is broadcast, for example, pay-per-view boxing.

What to do if TV Licensing comes to your home

So you've double-checked and are sure you don't require a license, but you still get letters from TV Licensing. Some of the letters may threaten you with a visit from enforcement officers. You can safely ignore these letters if you are sure you don't require a license, or you can respond and advise TV Licensing that you don't require a license (there's a section on the enclosed form for that).

However, you may find that TV Licensing wishes to conduct an inspection. They make a big play out of their spy gadgets that let them check in on who is watching live tv. That's fine; they can do that all day long, but what they can't do is enter your home. Under no circumstances (even if you are illegally watching TV, not that we'd ever condone that) do you have to let inspectors into your home. A number of people have taken to recording enforcement office visits and posting the footage online to instruct others on how to handle similar situations.

The easiest way to get rid of a TV Licensing inspector is to tell them that you revoked their implied right of access. The implied right of access is there so that people with legitimate reasons to enter your property, such as delivery men or milkmen, can do so without fear of prosecution. Withdrawing this implied right confirms that you are not prepared to allow them into your home or to call at your door and that you've done your homework on your rights as an occupier.

They know that if they continue to visit your property after you've revoked their implied right of access, you will be well placed to sue for trespass and/or harassment. You can also do this by writing a letter to TVL, but to do so, you'll need to confirm your own name and address, which is not something everyone is comfortable with.