PREPARATIONS are under way to get residents displaced by the Glasgow School of Art fire back into their homes.

Charing Cross Housing Association have been working with their tenants to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible.

Although an exact move in date is yet to be set, many of the temporary accommodation contracts end on September 1.

Housing bosses said they are hoping that the area within the cordon will be safe enough for residents to return home by then.

Director of Charing Cross Housing Association, Elaine Lister, said: “Until we get into the properties we have no idea what we will need to do to make them habitable.

“We don’t want the cordon to come down and there to be a mass stampede.

“We’re trying to arrange set times to let people go in and inspect them and make sure they’re safe, then we’ll identify any works that needs done.”

The association has helped tenants with applications for the Scottish Welfare Fund and are liaising with Environmental Health in case any homes need to be cleaned or have infestations.

Homes which have damaged property, such as carpets or fridges, will have to make a claim to their insurance to have them replaced, the housing association has said.

It is thought that items of furniture and appliances could be replaced by charity organisations.

Tenants are also expecting to be faced with boarded up doors after emergency services forced entry into the properties to ensure no one was inside on the night of the blaze.

Police Scotland, not Glasgow City Council as previously reported, drafted in vacant property management firm Orbis to board up the damaged homes.

Residents not factored by Charing Cross Housing Association are being helped by the Garnethill Displaced Residents group.