Actually elected one occupying property (2,7)

I believe the answer is:

in reality

'actually' is the definition.
('in reality' can be a synonym of 'actually')

'elected one occupying property' is the wordplay.
'elected' becomes 'in'.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'occupying' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'property' becomes 'realty' (realty is a kind of property**).
'i' put into 'realty' is 'reality'.
'in'+'reality'='IN REALITY'

(Another definition for in reality that I've seen is " As a matter of fact".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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