Country house in Virginia, poorly kept (5)
I believe the answer is:
villa
'country house' is the definition.
(I know that villa is a type of country house)
'virginia poorly kept' is the wordplay.
'virginia' becomes 'va' (US state abbreviation).
'poorly' becomes 'ill' (similar in meaning).
'kept' indicates putting letters inside.
'va' placed around 'ill' is 'VILLA'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for villa that I've seen before include "Classical country house" , "Country house in Italy or France" , "Large country house" , "Roman domicile" , "Detached house" .)