Crossword Genius

This property might cause gossip if it changed hands (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chattel

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'this property' is the definition.
(chattel is a kind of property)

'might cause gossip if it changed hands' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'gossip' could be 'chat' (synonyms) and 'chat' is found in the answer.
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'el' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for chattel that I've seen before include "Item of non-freehold property" , "Piece of portable property" , "Personal possession" , "something one owns" , "Movable possession" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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