They fell in love, married, and bought a home.

Back then, Yarralumla was an outer suburb. But 62 years, three children and six grandchildren later, the couple are completely attached to their sunny little corner of the now inner south.

Their beautifully maintained and renovated ex-government brick home has everything to allow Mrs Kelly, 85, and Mr Kelly, 83, to live out their final years independently and in comfort. Their peaceful established gardens provide for hours of happy pottering and contemplation.

So the fact that the house is a Mr Fluffy home, and Mr and Mrs Kelly have been told it must be demolished in 2020 has come as a truly agonising blow.

Mrs Kelly has lost weight from the stress, has difficulty sleeping and spends hours sitting by her large sunlit windows wondering how she can ever leave and start again somewhere else. Tears are never far away.

As part of its buyback scheme announced late last year, the ACT government set a five-year time limit on elderly residents remaining in their Mr Fluffy homes with buyback prices pegged to a home's value in October 2014.

While the couple stands to lose a substantial amount of value on their home if they stay, money is not the biggest issue for them.

"We just want to be left in our home to enjoy every day as it comes, without having to think about a time limit on staying here," Mrs Kelly said.

"Who knows how much longer we have to enjoy life?"

The thought of leaving their understanding and compassionate neighbours, the street Christmas parties and their GP practice close by is devastating.

"After 62 years I know I could never be happy anywhere else," Mrs Kelly said.

On a practical level, Mrs Kelly suffers from glaucoma and is able to negotiate the home in the dark. She feels safe getting around despite her failing eyesight.

For Mr Kelly, who prides himself on his building skills, and who has renovated the home to provide everything the couple has ever wanted, the lack of government flexibility in the buyback scheme and its impact on the elderly, has driven him to despair.

"I am usually pretty good at working things out. But not this time," he says quietly, resting his head in his hands.

"I know we are not the only elderly people facing this stress. Surely there can be a better way for the small number of us left?"

The couple support the government's buyback program and the way in which it has allowed younger families to sell their contaminated homes and move on with their lives.

"We support the other families moving out, particularly those with contaminated homes and young children. We would do exactly the same," Mr Kelly said.

They had no idea when they paid local contractor Dirk Jansen to pump loose asbestos into their roof in the late 1960s that it would have such devastating consequences.

The family was forced to move out for two months in 1992 for it to be removed under the Commonwealth clean-up. They believed then, and still believe today, that the house has been cleaned to a high standard and that it is safe.

Thirteen different asbestos tests have failed to pick up any trace of amosite in any part of their home.

"We would just love the chance to negotiate a way in which we can stay put, until we live out our lives. Without a deadline, without this hanging over our heads. It is a terrible weight to carry," Mr Kelly said.

"We would rather the government focus its attention on helping the young ones who need to get out and move on. We just want to be left in peace."