Asks for searches on empty residence (8)
I believe the answer is:
requests
'asks for' is the definition.
('request' can be a synonym of 'ask for')
'searches on empty residence' is the wordplay.
'searches' becomes 'quests' (quest is a kind of search**).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'empty' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters).
'residence' with its centre removed is 're'.
'quests' after 're' is 'REQUESTS'.
(Other definitions for requests that I've seen before include "Asks for" , "Petitions" , "Applies" , "Supplications" , "demands" .)