Many occupants of grand old period houses live only in a couple of rooms which is why an apartment in such a home often represents the best of all worlds - and partly accounts for the huge interest in number 40 Lansdowne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. This is a fine Victorian residence located close to the city in an area of rapidly escalating prices. One of four apartments in the house is for sale by informal tender on March 22nd through William Mulrooney. The guide price is £400,000. The high-ceilinged apartment is around 1,800 sq ft in size and comprises the hall floor and half of the garden level. Four bedrooms are in a two storey extension at the back.

The house was divided up some years ago and is in need of refurbishment throughout, although certain original features are still intact. The drawingroom is one of the few rooms unchanged. It has intricate plasterwork with the original decorative cornicing. Two elegant sash windows overlook the front of the house and the room has an impressive marble fireplace.

A narrow corridor leads to a small diningroom, presently used as a consulting room. It has a sash window and a modern marble fireplace. Next to it is the kitchen which is fairly spacious, with a shuttered sash window and a range of fitted units. The wooden flooring is not original.

Another narrow corridor with a vast mirror leads to the back of the apartment. There is a tiled shower room, with lavatory and wash-hand basin and next to it is a small bathroom. Both rooms might be more successful if amalgamated. There are two bedrooms also at this level, both of which could be used as doubles. They have fitted wardrobes and cupboards and the second room has a range of display shelving.

A twisting stairs leads from the corridor to the basement. There is plentiful under-stairs storage and a small kitchenette, plumbed for a washing machine. There are two further bedrooms on this level which could again serve as doubles and there is another bathroom , also fairly compact.

The garden - measuring 32 ft by 37.5 ft - is shared and in need of landscaping. Given the proximity to the rugby grounds it could provide an al fresco backdrop to headline acts likely to be playing there later in the summer.

There is an entrance to the garden from the front and to the downstairs level thereby providing scope for two apartments.

No service charge applies and residents are responsible for the exteriors of their own apartments. There is no off-street parking though a residential disk parking scheme applies.

The Berkeley Court Hotel is across the road and the DART is close by as well as shops, restaurants, educational institutions and Herbert Park.