Lodgers at home with friends (7)
I believe the answer is:
inmates
'lodgers' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'home with friends' is the wordplay.
'home' becomes 'in' ('he's home' can mean 'he's in').
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'friends' becomes 'mates' (mate is a kind of friend).
'in'+'mates'='INMATES'
'at' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inmates that I've seen before include "Ties man (anag.)" , "Inhabitants" , "Prisoners" .)