Shade used in houses regularly (3)
I believe the answer is:
hue
'shade' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'houses regularly' is the wordplay.
'regularly' means one should take alternating letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
The alternating letters of 'houses' are 'HUE'.
'used in' is the link.
(Other definitions for hue that I've seen before include "Tinge" , "General hubbub - . . . and cry" , "General outburst of alarm or protest - . . . and cry" , "appearance" , "complexion" .)