Job estimate includes start of renting flat out (9)
I believe the answer is:
prostrate
'flat out' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'job estimate includes start of renting' is the wordplay.
'job' becomes 'post' (post is a kind of job).
'estimate' becomes 'rate' (both can mean to judge).
'includes' indicates putting letters inside.
'start of' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'renting' is 'r'.
'post'+'rate'='postrate'
'postrate' going around 'r' is 'PROSTRATE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for prostrate that I've seen before include "helpless" , "Face to the ground" , "Flat" , "no longer able to stand" , "Horizontal" .)