On 10 May 2009 the "Sunday Telegraph" reported that within a year of being elected, Ussher was inquiring about claiming for around £20,000 worth of renovations to her London home, a property she had owned for several years before becoming an MP. In her claims she stated: "The plumbing in the entire house is strange [...] The electrics are also odd [...] Most of the ceilings have Artex coverings. Three-dimensional swirls. It could be a matter of taste, but this counts as 'dilapidations' in my book!" A letter produced by the "Telegraph" include a covering "With Compliments" slip stating "I am aware this takes us over our limit. Please pay as much as you are able".