ACT Housing said despite urgent preliminary rectification works that followed, a number of concerns remained.

The government is now in a dispute resolution process with the builder, Bellerive Homes, which argues the building was designed and signed off by the government in 2012.

The Lowanna Street complex, made up of 10 one- and two-bedroom units, was completed in 2012. But in early 2016, tenants were relocated and the building was fenced off.

A Housing ACT spokeswoman said despite urgent initial work to fix the property, concerns remained.

"Housing ACT has worked with relevant industry experts to ensure the safety of tenants and determine the most appropriate course of action," the spokeswoman said.

"Ultimately this was to relocate tenants and undertake a more thorough investigation of the building."

In July, the spokeswoman told Fairfax Media the department was "moving as quickly as possible to collaborate with the builder and all relevant experts" to progress the matter. But to date nothing has changed.

Nearby residents, who are concerned about the lack of progress, told The Canberra Times no repairs had been done since the fencing and scaffolding was erected and they had seen no movement on the block.

A former tenant, who asked to remain anonymous, said within months of moving into the new building in 2012 cracks started to appear on the walls and gaps between the tiles and skirting boards. When it would rain the apartment would flood.

"I actually left on my own accord because it was just terrible," she said.

The Housing ACT spokeswoman said the ACT Government solicitor was working with the department, the construction occupations registrar, ACT Fire and Rescue and private building certifiers to find a resolution.

Managing director of Bellerive Homes Adre de Waal said the building had been designed by the Department of Community and Housing Services and Bellerive had finished the building work in September 2012 under a design and construct agreement with ACT Housing. It had been certified in September 2012, including fire clearances and government electrical clearances.

The key issue now was whether it should have been considered a "Type B" or "Type A" building for fire rating, he said.

"We, using the design from ACT Housing, believe it's a Type B building. This is supported by the original design by the client, our completion of design documentation, and the certifications we have received.

"At the end of 2016, ACT Housing conducted an audit of a number of their buildings, including this one. Those audits raised the query whether or not the classification of this building is correct.

"That audit hypothesised that it could be a Type A construction on a very narrow interpretation of works in connection with a ramp to provide access to Actew for their drainage easements."

He believed the interpretation was not correct, and said he was waiting for "the final decision by ACT Housing in order for this matter to be taken forward".

If it was rated Type A, it would need substantial remedial work, but not a knock-down, he said.

"ACT Housing did the right thing by decanting the tenants from this building a year ago, in case the classification needs to change. Rather than seeing an article that shows ACT Housing in a negative light for taking this action, I hope that you would argue that they did absolutely the right thing in the interests of their tenants," he said.

Asked for details of the construction issues it found, an ACT Housing spokesperson said: "We have a number of expert reports relating to compliance with fire safety and structural elements of the National Construction Code, including drafts in progress. The reports are informing the current dispute resolution process under the building contract, and may be required for any future legal action. The reports will not be available for release until this process is complete."