Mahym Bedekova previously faced calls to resign after it emerged her HMO did not have planning permission, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

The planning committee meeting on Tuesday 17th (credit Joe Ives-LDRS) and (inset) Mahym Bedekova — The planning committee meeting on Tuesday 17th (credit Joe Ives/LDRS) and (inset) Mahym Bedekova

The chair of Enfield Council’s planning committee has finally obtained approval for her house in multiple occupation (HMO) – after operating it without permission since 2023.

Labour councillor Mahym Bedekova faced calls to resign last year after it was revealed in December she had been operating a HMO without planning permission for more than two years.

Following a vote by the planning committee on Tuesday (17th), Cllr Bedekova was finally granted approval for the “retrospective” application she had put in for the HMO in November 2025.

Michael Rye, a Conservative committee member and former council leader, said before the vote the whole situation was “fairly staggering”.

Electoral register records suggest that at least five adults have lived at the property in question since 2023, including Cllr Bedekova.

She had obtained a HMO licence for the property in May 2023 but did not apply for planning permission for the property until more than two years later.

In Enfield, council rules state HMOs must have both planning permission and a licence to operate.

When news broke of Cllr Bedekova’s unapproved HMO late last year, Cllr Rye was among those calling on the planning chair to resign, describing her position as “untenable”.

Campaign group Better Homes Enfield concurred, saying it was “an issue of integrity and trust in the planning system” in which “councillors and residents are subject to the same standards”.

Cllr Bedekova, who remains in her post, said she had “always acted in good faith” and takes her responsibility as planning chair “extremely seriously”.

Her retrospective planning application was considered by the council’s planning committee at last night’s meeting. It was the final one of six decisions made on the night, an unusually high number.

Cllr Bedekova recused herself as chair when the matter of her retrospective application finally came up nearly two-and-a-half hours into the meeting. Fellow Labour committee member Kate Anolue took over proceedings.

During the discussion, Tory committee member Lee Chamberlain questioned the “transparency” of the report prepared by council officers. He noted that Cllr Bedekova’s name does not appear on the report’s front page under the section headed “Applicant Name & Address” and is first mentioned instead on the fourth page.

A council officer responded saying that the applicant’s name does not necessarily have to appear on the front page.

After a brief discussion, Cllr Bedekova’s application was approved with three votes against, one abstention, and all Labour members present voting in favour.

Details of the application can be found on the council’s planning portal using application number 25/03335/FUL.

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