Crossword Genius

Law no longer applying to deceased landlord? (4,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dead letter

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'landlord?' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Unresponsive landlord' mean 'dead letter' so perhaps 'landlord' could also mean 'dead letter')

'law no longer applying to deceased' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'deceased' could be 'dead' (similar in meaning) and 'dead' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'letter' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dead letter that I've seen before include "Ineffective rule" , "Itll not lead to prosecution" , "no longer observed" , "Law no longer enforced" , "Unresponsive landlord" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.
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