Back about 2005 I had a problem, we had got a builder to turn a pantry and outside toilet into a wet room, they ran off in the middle of the job, and I thought up to that point all was above board.
So I told the local authority building control I was taking over the job, only at that point did I find out they had not been informed, lucky as work was for my disabled mum, no charges, and he did accept we had not tried to do things on the sly, and accepted all the building work except for the electrics.
It seems since the LABC inspector did not know anything about electrics he wanted to select an electrician they trusted to inspect and test, this I would need to pay for, and the fee would depend on how many visits he had to make, so like signing a blank cheque, any work done before he gives the go ahead for that section he can ask to be re-exposed, unless he did not attend within 14 days after we said ready for next stage, so looking at rather a large bill, and a delay, unless we could persuade the LABC inspector to accept our signatures.
Both my son and I held C&G 2391, and we had the test equipment on display, together with the calibration certificates, he was not keen on accepting our signatures, my son said well my dad has a degree, so I hope your guy is better qualified, and then he backed down and allowed me to sign the installation certificate.
Other councils may look on it different, and this was in the early days of Part P, but at the end of the day, you have to convince the LABC that you are a “qualified person” (means a person competent to undertake the inspection and testing required under regulation 3(1) and any further investigative or remedial work in accordance with the electrical safety standards
or a Competent person. (A person who possesses sufficient technical knowledge, relevant practical skills and experience for the nature of the electrical work undertaken and is able at all times to prevent danger and, where appropriate, injury to him/herself and others.) think name now changed to skilled person.
You may note it does not stipulate what exams are required to have been passed, so the
the form is to be found here so step one is for you to complete the form. With the form completed you can present it to the LABC who will clearly say they wanted some one else to do the inspection and testing, however by completing the form you are showing you have the skills to DIY the work, even if you had failed to tick the right boxes on the application form.
Putting it bluntly if you can't fill in the form, you should not had done the work, but even if you get your friendly electrician to help you, if you have completed the form, you can claim you thought that's what they wanted, and then see what they say.