The actual clue on several other threads has also included a number 8 which has caused some head scratching
Many more than 4 quarters here 8 (8 )
Answer to 8 was villa.
The 8 may be a setter's error though.
Seen as barracks, hostelry and tenement. Barracks is most likely in my opinion
8 has been shown as part of the clue, as ff rightly says. I have wondered if the 8 could relate to the eighth letter H. Apart from Maze Prison is there any other living in places in 'H' form.
Yes, I wondered if the answer ended in H- a seven letter word plus an H to form an 8 letter word. I couldn't think of one though. But I think it's more likely that the 8 is just the letter count and was included twice in error