She's in before the lodger (5)
I believe the answer is:
ethel
'she's' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'in before the lodger' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'ETHEL' can be found hidden inside 'before the lodger'.
(Other definitions for ethel that I've seen before include "Lethe (anag) -- Barrymore or Merman" , "Dame --- Smyth; William Brown's sister" , "girl" , "Dame - Smyth, Eng. composer, suffragette" , "chapel" .)