Speaks of zero house assessments (6)

I believe the answer is:

orates

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'speaks' is the definition.
(orating is a kind of speaking)

'zero house assessments' is the wordplay.
'zero' becomes 'O' (O resembles 0).
'house assessments' becomes 'rates' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'o'+'rates'='ORATES'

'of' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for orates that I've seen before include "Speaks formally, makes speech" , "Speechifies" , "Makes lengthy or pompous speech" , "Talks grandly from a platform" , "Talks pompously" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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