Requests variable rent and food (8)
I believe the answer is:
entreats
'requests' is the definition.
(entreat can mean to request or beg)
'variable rent and food' is the wordplay.
'variable' indicates anagramming the letters (a varied form of the letters).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'food' becomes 'eats' (eats can mean food).
'rent' is an anagram of 'entr'.
'entr'+'eats'='ENTREATS'
(Other definitions for entreats that I've seen before include "Implores" , "Beseeches, pleads" , "Begs earnestly" , "Requests earnestly" .)