Dublin 6: €1.2m: Guiding €1.2 million prior to auction on June 29th with Lisney, 56 Rathgar Road, Dublin 6 is a rescue operation that probably won't phase anyone with an eye for period architecture.

This 212sq m (2,284sq ft) three-bedroom redbrick has all the basic ingredients to make a superb family home, given a lot of elbow grease and a good builder.

The house needs restoration and the 80ft back garden needs replanting from scratch. The bare bones are here, however, in the fine period detail, rooms are lofty and original mantelpieces have been preserved.

Number 82, in beautiful condition, fetched over €1.7 million with Lisney last year.

Planning permission is current for two off-street car-parking spaces to the front and to extend the living space to 232sq m (2,500sq ft) at the back. This will involve demolishing the existing two-storey return plus a shed and re-building.

The house dates from 1865 and is a protected structure. Granite steps climb to an original Victorian panelled front door with fanlight and boot scraper.

Inside, the hallway is in a state of dilapidated splendour, its fine ceiling rose and cornicing distracting from the peeling wallpaper.

The drawingroom is well-proportioned, with decorative ceiling work and a fine marble mantelpiece with iron horseshoe inset.

Panelled doors fold back to a formal diningroom with marble mantelpiece and - like the drawingroom - sash windows with working shutters.

As was customary, the kitchen is at garden level with its own separate entrance.

A door leads to a family room with cast-iron fireplace. A bathroom here is not connected up to the water supply.

Up on the first floor are two good bedrooms, one with twin windows overlooking the front garden, a marble mantelpiece and beautiful ceiling work.

A family bathroom is on the first return.

The hall return from the entrance hall has another bedroom with casement window and a door to the back garden. Outside, the front is currently lawned, with planning in place for car-parking and gates.

Lovely old cut-stone walls are the only redeeming feature of the fair-sized back garden, which awaits an imaginative landscaping plan.