College close to neglected houses (4)
I believe the answer is:
eton
'college' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'close to neglected houses' is the wordplay.
'houses' says the answer is hidden in the clue (part of the clue houses the answer).
'ETON' is hidden within 'close to neglected'.
(Other definitions for eton that I've seen before include "Town on the Thames noted for its school" , "old school" , "Leading English public school" , "Kind of collar or jacket (worn at college?)" , "Berkshire town" .)