REMEDIATION work has started at the Nundle Village units, with Tamworth Regional Council staff treating the mould caked in their ceilings.
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Following this, roof repairs are set to start in the coming weeks.
The council-owned units on Durbin and Gill streets have been off-limits to the residents who live there for more than a month since the mould was discovered.
Now, they're one step closer to having their homes back.
But it's unclear when exactly that will be.
The council's acting director corporate and governance, Jason Collins, said the aim was to return the tenants to their units "as soon as possible", but the council was not seeking "a short-term fix".
"We have to remove the mould, and not only do it properly but make sure it can't grow back again and prevent exposing our tenants to future risk," Mr Collins said.
"Unfortunately we could not do that work if our residents stayed in the units."
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Nundle local and friend to the residents of the units, Kerrie Fearby, said the elderly ladies were "over" living in the local motel.
"If they were given a factual date they would know but they keep giving them different [completion] dates, then they get their hopes up and are totally let down," Ms Fearby said.
She had a holiday to Port Macquarie booked in, but has since postponed it because she feels so bad for the elderly residents.
She's currently running errands for one lady, and also takes care of this lady's dog, as it's unable to be left in the motel if the owner isn't around.
"If I didn't take him up to my place, she'd have to cancel her appointments," she said.
Mr Collins said the council was "in regular contact" with the residents, "to ensure their emotional and physical needs are being met and any inconvenience to them is as minimal as possible".
"Our first concern has been, and will continue to be, the wellbeing of our tenants," he said.
"We recognise this is a difficult time for them, and council has done what it can to ensure they are treated foremost with dignity and respect, and that they continue to remain connected to their community and made as comfortable as possible at no extra financial cost to them."
The council is providing the temporary accommodation without expense to tenants, and their rent payments have also been suspended.
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