Laughter about need to employ such a search? (5-2-5)

I believe the answer is:

house-to-house

'such a search?' is the definition.
(a house-to-house search is a search in all houses)

'laughter about need to employ' is the wordplay.
'laughter' becomes 'hoho' (hoho is a laughing sound).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'need' becomes 'use'.
'employ' becomes 'use' (synonyms).
'use'+'to'='useto'
'hoho' going around 'useto' is 'housetoho'.
'housetoho'+'use'='HOUSE-TO-HOUSE'

(Another definition for house-to-house that I've seen is " Door-to-door".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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