Having to rent after separation - feeling like a failure

[DazedAndPickled]

Husband and I are separating and he is moving out by the end of the year. We jointly own our home but will have to sell as neither of us could pass affordability to remortgage alone. Approx £20k total equity in house.
My options are very slim as I earn very little as currently juggling part time work and kids. Looking for a second job and have requested more hours at my current job too. Will have to apply for UC - can I apply while he is still living at home or best to wait for him to move out in a few weeks?
Will have to rent privately which fills me with dread for a number of reasons - extortionate rent, unable to make it my own, landlord visits, fear of being evicted constantly - to name a few!
Anyone been in this situation and found it a positive experience rather than a massive step backwards?
That’s even if I pass affordability for renting - I know the affordability criteria can be very strict! Anyone know of any more flexible and supportive estate agents to rent through?

Just feeling very low and anxious about the whole thing and feeling like a massive failure all round 😣

I had to rent when first divorced. It was fine and it was a happy carefree home that I didn’t have to worry about maintaining. I was able to simply decorate too. 12 years on I no longer rent, it’s not forever but there’s no shame in it

OP not all LL's do constant checking. I check 6 months after they moved in then once a year and agree a date/time 2-3 in advance to give them time to prepare. I allow tenants to decorate if they want to provided they return room to white/magnolia when they leave. I think most of the LL who were going to sell because of RR will have sold or put houses up for sale by now. The next big sell off will come when houses have to reach ECP C.

@caringcarer you sound like a kind landlord! I think I’m traumatised by past renting experiences!
So from a landlord point of view, would you be reluctant to have a single mum with UC top up as a tenant? Would the estate agents handling your property check this with you or do they just go by their own affordability criteria? I feel like the agents can be a real stumbling block for people in my position.

@socks1107 thank you for the positive story 🙏

I used to allow single Mums on UC to rent from me knowing if they trashed the place or didn't pay rent I could issue section 21. I've never had any problems with single Mums. During COVID I went every day to lady who was ill with COVID. I got her shopping and brought her DD a cooked meal every day as she had no one else to help her. I also got her toilet rolls and paracetamol. Now I can't do
that. For new tenants I only rent to couples who both work and earn well so if one loses their job they can still pay the rent. I also like a guarantor. The lady house input up to rent 3 months ago had loads of viewings within 48 hours of it being advertised. 20 people viewed in 4 groups on same day. 13 wanted to rent it. Tbh they all sounded ok but I had to choose 1. I chose 2 civil servants with a solid work history of many years. They had 1 5 year old child and no pets. I rejected a dentist because his partner did not work. They had 1 DC. I turned down a nurse and a paramedic who both worked but had 4 DC and a dog and it's a 3 bedroom house. The list goes on. If you have a guarantor you are more likely to find somewhere. Since the RR Act a lot of LL's have sold up so there are far fewer rental houses to rent. Prices have gone up too. I have not increased prices but I noticed a house 2 doors down from one I rent being advertised for £250 more than I charge. I'm happy with my tenants as most have been with me for 6 years or more. I'll increase rent in 2027 but by inflation plus whatever cost the government is charging me to be on their list of LL's per house.