The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word APARTMENTS
A
P
A
R
T
M
E
N
T
S
More clues leading to the result APARTMENTS
- Rooms male painters maybe secured in suitable quarter
- A standard time before workers finally built employers’ homes
- Man set trap that’s crushed more than one flat
- Accommodation for a section with workers on empty trains
- A standard time before workers finally built employers' homes
- Houses are ready, drawing people in leading to loans eventually
- Transcendental meditation in a parent’s lodgings
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Houses" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case houses = apartments.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does APARTMENTS mean?
APARTMENTS noun- A complete domicile occupying only part of a building, especially one for rent; a flat.
- A suite of rooms within a domicile, designated for a specific person or persons and including a bedroom.
- A division of an enclosure that is separate from others; a compartment
- (COM) A conceptual space used for separation in the threading architecture. Objects in one apartment cannot directly access those in another, but must use a proxy.