The attributes of decent links (10)
I believe the answer is:
properties
'the attributes' is the definition.
(property is a kind of attribute)
'decent links' is the wordplay.
'decent' becomes 'proper' ('proper' can be a synonym of 'decent').
'links' becomes 'ties' (tying is a kind of linking).
'proper'+'ties'='PROPERTIES'
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for properties that I've seen before include "Houses" , "Attributes" .)