Starter homes: Quirky rooms in two apartments over three old city quarter floors

Location: Cork city

No 17 Nicholas Street, in the very heart of old Cork City off Douglas Street in the South Parish is a bit of an oddity — it’s two in one.

Looking for all the world like a two-up, two down, it is in fact two one-bed apartments, over three floors in all, with some quirky rooms and a walled-in back garden with bit of an old shed at its end.

No 17 is new to market with Jarleth Boyd of Timothy Sullivan auctioneers, with a €165k asking price, and he says if investors go for it, “it would rent all day long, at about €1,000 a month.” Alternatively a buyer could purchase, rent one half, or two friends or siblings may opt to buy jointly.

There’s a ground floor unit with kitchen/living room in a rear extension and bedroom to the street, and upstairs the second unit has its living quarters on floor one, with a large lofted bedroom up a level again, with city views from its rear Velux window, and there’s an adjoining shower room.

Despite all being done up about ten years ago, the two sections weigh in with quite different BER ratings, an E2 at the ground level, and a C2 for the two-floored unit above.

VERDICT: Super old city quarter setting, with options here to be sure for a range of buyers.