Joy on the faces of those finally being allowed back home in Wellington.

Nearly four months on from the Kaikoura earthquake that drove them out, all residents evacuated from the Maison Cabriole apartments are now free to return home.

They had to leave when it was discovered the Reading Cinema carpark next door was at risk of collapse, and had to be demolished.

Site manager Phil Becker said residents started returning at 10am.

"Clear jubilation on the faces of people being able to go back to their homes and start their lives again. Quite a number of them have been really disrupted so they're overjoyed to be able to get back in."