Joint Mortgage - Can I stay in the home?

Hello - please give me advise on the following.

I have been divorced for a year and the ex wife has moved out out of the home 3.5 years ago. I have lived here for 16 years.
was with the ex for 7 years

We agreed terms for the split and had a separation agreement drawn up with a solicitor, I would take on all debts (£40k) and keep the house (£200k value with a £160k joint mortgage) but would get the house in sole name as soon as I could.

I have paid off most of the debts and left with £10k. However the mortgage lender won't grant me a mortgage on my own or with my new partner as some the loans were on arrangement.

I believe I will be able to get a mortgage in either May when I am debt free or sept when my financial history clears.

I cannot believe I cant get my existing mortgage co or a new one to help - never missed a payment, good salary etc

What can she do?
Can she force me to sell and give the house the away? I tried to sell but could not get a buyer.

What options do I have to keep the house?

She wants to buy a new house and says she can't get a mortgage because of the connection.

I don't want to lose the house.

Well, can I be clear about one thing - you are divorced but you have not settled your finances by means of a formal order from the Court. Am I right about that ?
But you have a separation agreement and you had the assistance of a solicitor. So I assume that your solicitor would have explained to you about separation agreements. In some cases separation agreements can be readily converted into Court orders. But in general the Courts have taken the view that separation agreements will be upheld in most cases provided certain basic preconditions are satisfied. The leading case on these agreements is called Edgar v Edgar and I assume your solicitor will have told you about it.
Now the problem that I have here is that I can't advise you on the agreement without seeing it. Nor do I know whether your ex took legal advice on her own account in relation to the agreement - an essential condition for enforceability.
On the face of it, you have a separation agreement which says ( I assume because I haven't seen it ) and the first question which I would ask is, quite simply, she has agreed to transfer the house to you ; she has not ; therefore, can you enforce the agreement ? But if - for argument's sake - her agreement to transfer is subject to your being able to procure her a release from the mortgage - then on the face of it, unless and and until you can do that then you can't enforce a transfer.
I'm sorry but you really can't expect anyone on this forum to advise you on an agreement without seeing it. The agreement is not valueless, inasmuch that if ( for example ) you decided to seek an order from the Court to sort the position out once and for all ( which is one option ) and she will not agree to a sale, she has to answer the question as to why in that case she signed an agreement consenting to it.
If you consulted me ( which you can't because I retired some time ago ) the basic question is, is this agreement likely to be enforceable ? So I suggest you consult someone who can help you on this basic issue.
LMM

If "by arrangement" you mean paying arrears in installments, your credit history won't be repaired until six years after final payment.

Even ignoring the above, you are looking for a remortgage of 80% loan to value, not good. You will also need an income of £40k to obtain £160k.
You don't say how long the remortgage term would be, but the Halifax site has some good calculators for you to see whether you can afford it.

If you beleive you can, seek the advice of a whole market broker, they sometimes use lenders who don't stick to strict lending criteria, but take circumstances into account.

Lastly if the debts were joint, your ex's credit will be affected as yours is.
If the link was only by mortgage and the debts in your name, Experian will allow a disassociation for credit purposes.
http://www.experian.co.uk/contactforms/consumer_onlinedisasso ciation.html