WHY won't estate agents rent me a property?

I am a single mother of a beautiful 22 month old baby boy. In my quest of wanting to both support myself and be the best mother I can to my son, I decided to take a course and become a qualified childminder, in doing so I have come up against every reason and excuse for not renting me property.

Reasons given are that I receive a goverment incentive for being a childminder; It is illegal to run a business from a residential property; all of their landlords refuse to rent to childminders.

I have spoken to the council and they assure me that I do not need planning permission and because the fabric of the building is not changed and is still a domestic property it is not classed as business use.

I have assured agents that I have guarantors, I will only be working for 16 hours a week looking after my 11 and seven year old nieces, who would be visiting me  even if I wasn't a childminder, with the back up of £5 million public liability.

Surely this must be classed as discrimination, or does it mean that they will not rent to anyone with three children and does the odd bit of babysitting?

The country being in the economic situation it is and many people not being able to raise a morgage and not wanting to sit on their backside, surely I must be entitled to somewhere to live and support myself, what am I supposed to do? – Name and address supplied.