It could be a year before some residents of a Melbourne apartment building are able to return home after a blaze ripped through a CBD complex covered in dangerous flammable cladding.
Documents from the owners' corporation show residents from apartments requiring "major works" at the Neo200 building should consider a six-to-12-month lease in alternative accommodation.
Safety services including fire sprinklers and fire doors have not been fully restored at the Spencer Street building, which caught fire on February 4.
Finance worker Phil Tse, who lives on level 28 of the building, said he had been moving between hotels after earlier staying with friends.
"It's quite exhausting," Mr Tse told AAP.
"I've never been given a day on when we can return."
Works are underway to fix the building's fire services, including smoke alarms and emergency warning systems, with residents on the least-affected levels expected to return soon.
"It could be as soon as next week but we don't know," Mr Tse said.
Residents are able to temporarily return to apartments for five or 10 minutes if granted permission from the council, he added.
Repairs to fire services were expected to be tested on Friday, a statement from building managers the Aus Body Corp said.
"Subject to the outcome of testing, documentation will be provided to council for review against the emergency orders," the statement said.
Tenants have been provided with up to $2500 while displaced from their homes.
A City of Melbourne spokeswoman said an emergency order was still in place until the council received documentation that essential safety measures have been restored.
Fire crews rushed to the 40-storey building early on February 4, aware the building was covered with flammable cladding.
It's believed the blaze was started by a cigarette on a 22nd-floor balcony, which ignited combustible materials and quickly spread five storeys upward.
The apartment building is one of more than 2000 inspected by the Victorian Building Authority.
Australian Associated Press