The Federal Reserve is beefing up its examination of US banks, fearing that profligate lending to commercial property developers could ultimately prove as damaging to the financial system as the subprime mortgage debacle.

A man is facing allegations he lived off the taxpayer in state housing while he was a landlord owning two properties.

I've experienced some rather unsuitable flats. But never have I suffered the indignity of being rejected as "unsuitable" to live in one. Until this year...