In 2009, the media, including TVNZ and TV3 revealed that English was receiving about NZ$900 a week as part of a living allowance for ministers, to live in his own NZ$1.2 million Wellington home. At the time, English also received $276,200 in his annual salary as Deputy Prime Minister.[36][37] It was also revealed other ministers with homes in the capital city were also claiming accommodation allowances.[38] On 3 August 2009, Prime Minister John Key announced a review of the housing allowances claimed by cabinet ministers.[39]
English subsequently announced he would pay back $12,000 and only claim about $24,000 a year in living allowances.[40] The Auditor-General's office said in September 2009 that they were making "preliminary enquiries" into parliamentary housing expenses in response to a letter of complaint from Progressive party leader Jim Anderton.[41] Two days later English announced that he would no longer take up any housing allowance and had paid back all the allowance he had received since the November 2008 election.[42]
