PS - one thing not mentioned yet ...
Wish it was not true, but yes it seems people do try it on, the problem I find is the report flags a fault, but does not say exactly what the fault is, or want part of the regulations or even what regulation says it's not permitted.
For example there is nothing in BS7671 to say what height a socket should be, that is part of building regulations, and would depend on when the house was built, even with a full rewire if a building is listed there are different rules, again England, Scotland and Wales are different. And anyone can make a genuine error, so you look at a report which says new distribution unit is required, and you look at the units and think which one and why, had they said "because there is asbestos in it" then you could work it out, or does not comply with
522.6.6 again some idea, but even reading the best practice guide, it says you should note it when sockets are overloaded with multi socket units, which to be frank may have been removed before the house is rented.
I have in the past I will admit got it wrong, I have told people there is no law saying you have to get an EICR done for example, that may be true in England, but not true for Scotland, and not sure in Wales. I can say BS7671 is not law but can be used in a court of law, as it says so in the actual book, but heights of sockets, fans in bathrooms, and many other electrical items are part of building regulations and not even in Part P.
And unlike BS7671 when there is a change one does not have to sit a course and take an exam, I read an early copy and it said where there is a non opening window, in a bathroom, there has to be a fan, which can be connected to lights, but must be able to be turned on without the lights, I have since hunted to see which part of the building regulations I found this, and I can't now find it, as to if I am looking in wrong section, or if it has been removed I don't know.
However on a more positive thing
if you read this PDF it gives you an idea what should be included, there is a picture "Older immersion heater without thermal cut-out" in that guide that does point out the problems, with a plastic header tank, without the cut-out the header tanks have been known to split, in one case killing a baby, however where solid fuel heating is used, the cut-out is not required, as the solid fuel can cause water to boil which will stop immersion heater from then working as it has been over heated, so with solid fuel it must be re-settable and is not really required as header tank will stand boiling water, but where electric is only form of water heating, then the cut-out is normally a non resettable type.
Personally I think the flimsy plastic header tanks should have been banned, but that's another story, just pointing out how easy it is to make a mistake because you have relied on a guide rather then looking at what is behind the guide.
