Age is irrelevant - the regulations have changed.
I'm not disputing you are right in this case, but incorrect as the blanket statement this was presented as
It's not very efficient to wait until a failed inspection tells you you've done something wrong.
For you, maybe. My time is free.
By learning. And "learning" by just diving in and doing is not always a sensible idea.
This isn't the time or the place for philosophy but I would dispute that first part. Agreed it is isn't always a sensible idea, but basic electrics and electrical safety is hardly rocket science.
No amount of "confidence" can substitute for necessary knowledge and experience.
You miss the point, I was referring to the perceived difficulty of a task. Confidence is most definitely a factor there.
In practical terms, it cant be done. No electrician will certify work done by somebody else, certainly not somebody unqualified.
So why do the council offer this route? It must be possible or they wouldn't offer it.
Their building regs charges document states: "Charges assume that any related domestic electrical works are to be undertaken and self-certified by a suitably qualified person and notified to the local authority through a competent person scheme (such as NICEIC Domestic Installer). Where such work is to be undertaken and is NOT going through a competent persons scheme provider an additional charge applies to cover the cost of electrical inspections and testing."
Then in the table of charges: "Domestic Electrical works
not carried out under the Competent Persons Scheme" with a basis of charge as "Any other controllable electrical work" and a charge of £269.
If that doesn't mean they will inspect and test DIY work for £269 then I'm going to have to write to them strongly suggesting all council staff receive verbal reasoning training. But as has been said, ultimately I'll have to check with them.
The original question was what sort of info they would require up front!
Thanks everyone for your input so far.