Lets off a creepy motelier (6)
I believe the answer is:
abates
'lets' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to change as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'off a creepy motelier' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
The remaining letters 'bates' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for abates that I've seen before include "Subsides" , "Becomes less strong like storm" , "Becomes less intense" , "has a fall" , "Grows less intense" .)