Expert issues BBC TV Licence advice on who can apply for discount of up to £169.50

Anyone who watches live TV or BBC iPlayer will face an increase in their TV Licence bill this year, with more than 24 million households across the UK set to be affected by the change.

The licence, which funds BBC services, is set to rise from to £159 to £169.50 from April 1. You need a TV Licence if you watch live TV on any channel, pay for a TV service or streaming service, or if you use BBC iPlayer - if you don't have one, you could be slapped with a fine of up to £1,000.

However, it's worth checking whether you could be entitled to a discount on your annual fee - some households only have to pay £7.50 a year, while for others it's completely free. A legal expert has issued advice on who needs to pay their licence fee and which households may be eligible for a discount, BirminghamLive reports.

The expert from The University of Law explained: "Homeowners or tenants of a property who watch or record live programmes on any device (including computers and tablets), must have a TV licence. The same goes for any programmes downloaded or viewed via BBC iPlayer.

"The only time you don’t need a licence is when watching non-BBC programmes with catch-up services, videos, DVDs or even Blu-Rays, or online videos on sites such as YouTube. You only need one licence per residence, which will cover everyone in that household."

They added: "There are options to pay this in an annual lump sum, or in monthly or quarterly instalments. There is some good news for owners of black and white TVs, as the licence fee here has remained the same at £53.50. There are some exemptions and discounts available in special circumstances, however it's worth bearing in mind that if you were eligible, you would most likely have been informed about it.

"If you are aged 75 years old or over and you, or your partner living at the same address receives Pension Credit, then you can apply for a free TV licence. It's also worth looking into this if you live in a residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation, as you may also qualify for a free licence."

The expert went on to say: "Those who are blind or severely sight impaired may also be eligible for a 50% discount, providing you can provide 'appropriate evidence'."

It's important to note that even if you think you qualify for a free or reduced TV Licence, you will still need to apply for one to make sure you're covered and avoid penalties.