The act built upon the previous Housing, Town Planning, &c. Act 1919, by increasing government subsidies to be paid to local authorities to build municipal housing for rent for low paid workers from £6 to £9.

The Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald dubbed the act 'our most important legislative item'.

[1] This measure went some way towards rectifying the problem of the housing shortage, caused by the disruption of the building trade during the First World War and the inability of working-class tenants to rent decent, affordable housing.

Wheatley was able to provide public housing to council tenants, as against the previous government's commitment to privatisation.

[2] According to one historical study, Wheatley’s houses had “slightly larger dimensions than Chamberlain’s,” and were also the first to be “equipped compulsorily with a bathroom instead of a bath” in the scullery.