Dream home may keep you up at night Â

The estate agent's blurb says the building is "well known in photographic circles" – a description that hardly sums up the notoriety of a mansion that provided the backdrop to the Joy of Sex video.

The estate agent's blurb says the building is "well known in photographic circles" – a description that hardly sums up the notoriety of a mansion that provided the backdrop to the Joy of Sex video.

If you believe that homes possess atmospheric qualities, this seven-floor house should qualify as a bricks and mortar form of aphrodisiac. It was the setting for the orgy in a French theatre production of Spartacus, an Ann Summers erotic lingerie catalogue and a Playboy documentary, not to mention one of Kylie Minogue's more sultry videos.

The imposing Victorian mansion was the home of the photographer Michael Joseph, a man who once proclaimed "If you need an orgy, you call me" and snapped such sex symbols as Jerry Hall and Britt Ekland.

And today 46 Clapham Common Northside is back on the market for a titillating £3.5m.

For those not drawn by the prospect of swimming in a pool where Playboy models once frolicked, the ornate Grade II listed mansion has many other selling points. Designed by the architect James Knowles, the elegant terrace was intended to be seen by the Queen as she travelled out of London.

It has eight bedrooms, a penthouse suite, wine cellar, library, games room, garden and roof terrace.

Tony D'Alton of property dealers Knight Frank says the building's sexual associations will not deter potential buyers. "Why should it? Half of Soho used to be brothels that are now very smart places," he said.