Strain with landlord and distant form of communication (3,6)
I believe the answer is:
air letter
'communication' is the definition.
(air letter is a kind of communication)
'strain with landlord' is the wordplay.
'strain' becomes 'air' (synonyms).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'landlord' becomes 'letter' (landlords let property).
'air'+'letter'='AIR LETTER'
'and distant form of' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for air letter that I've seen before include "Item of overseas post" , "Item of overseas mail" , "speedy delivery" .)