Custom Hall was the first private apartment scheme to be built on Gardiner Street, Dublin 1, in the early 1990s offering attractive tax incentives to investors.

Section 23 tax designation was introduced in 1981 with a twofold aim, to give a much needed boost to the construction industry and to rejuvenate derelict and fringe urban areas and in the early 1990s was limited to residential development.

While the suburbs were sprawling fast, the inner city was stagnating with a population decline of 52 per cent between 1961 and 1991. Up to recent years the sale of apartments in what were previously regarded as rundown areas has been largely dependent on Section 23 investors.

Built by Cosgrave Developments, there are over 160 apartments in the development and prices for a one-bed were around £45,000 on release.

Apartment number 138, Custom Hall is now on the market through HOK Residential for £150,000 (190,460).

A one-bedroom top floor apartment of 400 sq ft with underground parking, it is bright, airy and stylish making the most of a small space.

The entrance hall has a storage cupboard and an intercom and the neutral-toned livingroom has a brick fireplace, wooden floors and an archway through to galley kitchen with range of cream glass fronted units.

The management fee is £539(684) per annum .