Powerless to give one a rent adjustment (5)
I believe the answer is:
inert
'powerless' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'give one a rent adjustment' is the wordplay.
'give' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'adjustment' indicates anagramming the letters (the order of letters is adjusted).
'rent' anagrammed gives 'nert'.
'i'+'nert' is 'INERT'.
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for inert that I've seen before include "Disinclined to move" , "Like e.g. xenon" , "Inter, being unable to move" , "Not chemically reactive" , "Sluggish, inactive" .)