Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is receiving security and household support at his Kingston Foreshore apartment ahead of a planned move to The Lodge.
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Finance Department officials told Senate estimates hearings on Monday and Tuesday the move would be completed before Christmas, with no new blow-outs to the final cost to taxpayers of about $8.8 million.
Minor household support at Mr Turnbull's luxury apartment complex includes mail screening and dry-cleaning services. Australian Federal Police officers have been involved in providing security outside the building since his successful September 14 challenge against Tony Abbott.
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet deputy secretary Elizabeth Kelly said some furniture was moved into the restored Lodge last week but other historic items, including artworks owned by the Australiana Fund, were yet to be returned from specialist storage.
Work inside the 1927 home is largely finished, but last week's discovery of asbestos in a 1960s security guardhouse on Adelaide Avenue has pushed back overall completion until the end of October.
The renovations, commissioned under the former Labor government, were originally expected to take just 18 months and be completed by 2014. The project is already more than $5 million over the original price tag of $3.19 million.
Mr Turnbull has confirmed he will live at The Lodge when in Canberra but won't use Sydney Harbour's Kirribilli House, preferring his family's multimillion-dollar Point Piper mansion. Kirribilli will continue to be used for official government functions.
Ms Kelly told a hearing on Monday night final preparations for new tenants at The Lodge were ongoing.
"We are still in the process of purchasing some new bedding and the like to fit out the upstairs bedrooms fully, because that was not in place," she said.
"When that work is completed the National Gallery will then put the artworks into The Lodge. I know the Prime Minister is very keen to move in as soon as he possibly can.
"We are keen to use The Lodge for the Christmas festivities and Christmas functions that are part of the Prime Minister's regular calendar, and he is keen to move in there before Christmas."
A lawn outside the home's drawing room will have to be restored after construction facilities are moved but Ms Kelly said heritage aspects of the grounds and the Bettina Gorton Garden had been protected throughout the work.
Household staff from The Lodge have been based in the Prime Minister's office during the renovation project.
"There has been a large guardhouse placed in the middle of the garden. The guardhouse is larger than the guardhouse that it replaced," Ms Kelly said.
The renovations have included asbestos removal, replacement of the 1980s slate roof, upgrades to heating and cooling systems, lighting and electrical wiring. New kitchen and bathrooms have been added and a specialised "luggage lift" has been installed.
New toilets, balustrades and a shed for the property's gardeners have been built outside.
