For some years now number 4 Dartmouth Square in Ranelagh has proven an income-earner for its owner. The house, once lived in as a single family unit, was divided into a one-bed self-contained apartment at garden level for the owner who then let out the upper level, a three-bed house. The stairs between the two could easily be reinstated, although the apartment was fitted out to such a high quality – it’s all very modern and streamlined – it would be a big decision for new owners to change that layout.

In the apartment, the double bedroom – with en suite – is to the front; there’s a small bathroom and at the rear is an open-plan living area. It was fitted two years ago with sleek grey kitchen units and a stone-topped breakfast-bar island on one side, while on the other is an open fire and plenty of space for a sofa and chairs. Tucked away off the panelled hall in this thought-through conversion are the washing machine and dryer fitted into a custom-made cupboard. There is access from this level out to the garden which is relatively small – but the beautifully maintainted square is to the front and it is now a hive of activity especially during the summer.

These are tall houses with several steps up to the hall door so the garden level has good ceiling heights.

Upstairs the house is being viewed vacant – the tenants are gone – but the accommodation is as expected in this fine Victorian redbrick. Highly decorative ceiling plasterwork is a feature at hall level – in the interconnecting reception rooms and entrance hall – and there is the expected list of period features including fine chimneypieces, tall sash windows with shutters, fireplaces in some bedrooms, polished floorboards and a particularly attractive coloured glass window on the landing.

A kitchen was installed in the rear reception room which buyers might update or not depending on taste. A utility room is in the hall-floor return. Upstairs there are three double bedrooms – the largest one to the rear has an en suite concealed behind a run of cherrywood doors. At the top of the house in the back return is the family bathroom.

In all, including the garden level, there is 195sq m (2,100sq ft) of space.

This side of the square backs on to a vacant 1.7 acre site fronting onto the canal. That site is awaiting development. The proposed Metrolink is also expected to impact on the west side of Dartmouth Square although to what extent is still not clear. Number 4 Dartmouth Square is for sale through DNG asking €1.475 million.

Next door, number 5 is for sale through Sherry FitzGerald asking €1.425 million. It is in units so buyers for that property are likely to be quite different from those chasing number 4 given the amount of work and time required to either bring that house back to single family occupancy or to modernise the units.