It's off-putting when Edward returns and hesitates with lease (9)
I believe the answer is:
deterrent
'it's off-putting' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'edward returns and hesitates with lease' is the wordplay.
'edward' becomes 'ted'.
'returns' says the letters should be written backwards.
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'hesitates with' becomes 'er' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'lease' becomes 'rent' (synonyms).
'ted' written backwards gives 'det'.
'det'+'er'+'rent'='DETERRENT'
'when' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for deterrent that I've seen before include "It acts to discourage" , "It discourages someone from doing something" , "Nuclear weapons allegedly" , "Something designed to be off-putting" , "Eg, a nuclear weapon" .)