Haringey Council has reaffirmed its pledge to ensure all tenants of housing blocks threatened with demolition are rehoused if the flats are knocked down.

The council assured people in the Tangmere and Northolt blocks on Tottenham’s Broadwater Farm estate that they would be given council homes at council rents if the buildings – which have failed structural safety tests – are demolished.

Jacob Secker, secretary of Broadwater Farm Residents’ Association, had raised concerns that the council’s use of a section 105 consultation meant it did not have to guarantee housing would be re-provided at affordable levels.

He said the council should have used a Greater London Authority (GLA) ballot of residents to decide whether to strengthen or demolish the buildings.

Mr Secker said: “The council will come up with an option for rebuilding. They say ‘you can reject the option’ – but you are never going to say to residents a serious option is rejecting.

“They have tried to force us in a direction of demolition, and then they say, ‘we did want to re-provide but we have not got the money’. They have not done the costings.”

He said using a GLA ballot would ensure the council could not go back on its promises because doing so meant they would lose GLA funding.

But the council said it needed to act quickly to decide the fate of the Tangmere and Northolt blocks because they had been declared unsafe.

This meant the GLA guidance, which relates to long-term estate regeneration, would not be appropriate.

The council also has a statutory duty to satisfy the section 105 criteria in all scenarios before making a decision about demolition.

Under section 105 of the Housing Act 1985, local housing authorities have a legal obligation to consult with secure tenants on matters of housing management that are likely to significantly affect them.

Cllr Emina Ibrahim, cabinet member for housing, said: “We are 100 per cent committed to delivering at least the same number of council homes on Broadwater Farm, at council rents, should we decide to demolish and rebuild Tangmere or Northolt.

“We have promised all affected residents a right to return to the estate and are working with the GLA to ensure we meet their requirements.

“Council housing is one of this cabinet’s key priorities – we could not be clearer about our commitment on Broadwater Farm.”