When decayed, hopeless to rent (6)

I believe the answer is:

rotten

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'when decayed' is the definition.
'rotten' can be an answer for 'decayed' (synonyms). I am not sure about the 'when' bit.

'hopeless to rent' is the wordplay.
'hopeless' is an anagram indicator.
'to'+'rent'='torent'
'torent' anagrammed gives 'ROTTEN'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for rotten that I've seen before include "Corrupt; very bad" , "'Decayed, stinking (6)'" , "Decayed - to the core" , "Decaying or morally corrupt" , "Something is ... in the state of Denmark (Hamlet)" .)

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