Ex demanding money from my lodgers

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When we split up a few years ago, my ex leant me £28,000 of our 50/50 equity, so I could buy a 3 bedroom house for myself and 2 young adult children. The deal was I paid him back when I sold the house or when/if I moved a new partner in.
one of my children has moved out and I occasionally have short term lodgers. He is now asking for a cut of the lodgers money I get. He wants 50%, which isn’t going to paying off the debt.
This was not the agreement. Nothing is legally binding about the agreement, but he has my word.
I don’t want to give him any lodgers money, neither am I ready to sell up. He is being very persistent.
What would others do in my situation.
Thanks

Try and pay him back ASAP so he can't hassle you for the money?

Work out a payment plan with him and stick to a schedule .

I’m on the side of the payment plan

From his point of view you are taking the piss. And I understand his POV.

I wouldn't want to still be beholden to him so I'd either sell or pay off ASAP.

If there is no legal agreement in place then of course he is not entitled to any money you are making from renting out a room. Why does he feel he has a right to this money and for it NOT to be paying off the debt? However, I agree that morally you are obliged to start paying him back asap. Send him a proposed payment plan.

He doesn't own any equity in your property, so he doesn't get to demand anything from your lodging money. But I'd be inclined to try to pay off the loan with it if you can.

Yes I'd want to pay off that debt asap. Why drag it out?

How does he know you have lodgers though?

Pay him back somehow. You're taking the piss not to now that your shared child is an adult.

How old are your children now? You need to clear that debt asap.

Another vote for writing up a payment plan.

You could stay in that house for another decade or two, and under your agreement if you don’t cohabit he’ll still not see his money!

He made the terms with you - he accepted them !

Have you moved a partner in ? NO

Have you sold the house? NO

He can't renegotiate the terms after

More fool him for making that deal

This very much depends on the actual legal arrangements you made at the time. However, I would be doing my utmost to pay off the debt asap

I don't see why you wouldn't be after paying him back ASAP really?

Well, he can't unilaterally change the terms of your agreement so I would start by reminding him of that fact. It's a pity there isn't a signed agreement as it would obviously make life easier but an oral agreement is just as binding.
Nevertheless, it does seem that unless you cohabit or decide to move, he's not entitled to the return of the £28k does he realise just how long he could be waiting for the return of his money? Although it's not part of your agreement, I'd start thinking about whether I could start putting money away now and repay the loan in a few years rather than waiting until I sold the property / cohabited.

Stop having lodgers
get another side hustle your ex doesn’t know about

pay the £28k back
ask for your 50% share of the house and then pay vack £28k