What Can I Do About a Landlord Who Is Harassing and Threatening Me by Phone in Texas?
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed January 1, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
My landlord has been verbally harassing me over the phone and constantly flooding my phone with calls. There have been verbal threats as well. What can I do to protect myself?
The verbal threats have been over phone calls that were not recorded. I have documented the constant phone calls as well. Threats to our legal safety, berating of character. Not been reported yet.
Attorney Answer
What you're describing, repeated harassing calls and verbal threats, can be a crime in Texas, not just an annoying landlord problem, and you have real options.
Under Texas Penal Code section 42.07, it is a criminal offense to repeatedly contact someone by phone with intent to harass, annoy, alarm, or threaten them. The behavior you've described, constant calls plus threats, fits this law well. Because you've already documented the pattern of calls, you're in a good position to report this.
Here's what I'd do next, in order:
1. Keep documenting everything. You're already tracking the calls, so keep adding to that log: date, time, what was said, and any witnesses nearby. Written logs alone are still useful evidence even without recordings. 2. Put your landlord on written notice. Send a short, factual letter or email stating that the calls and threats need to stop immediately, and that further contact should be limited to writing regarding any legitimate landlord business. Keep a copy. 3. File a police report. Bring your documentation and reference Texas's harassment law when describing what's happened. A report creates an official record even if charges take time to develop. 4. Ask about a protective order if it continues. A local legal aid office or the police can point you toward the right process if the harassment escalates or continues. 5. Know your rights as a tenant. Texas law recognizes that tenants are entitled to peacefully use and enjoy their rental without significant interference. Ongoing harassment can factor into a broader dispute about your lease.
You mentioned this hasn't been reported yet. Given that the threats have touched on your legal safety, I would not wait much longer. Repeated, documented harassment is exactly the kind of pattern that police and prosecutors can act on.
This is general legal information, not legal advice about your specific situation. A Texas attorney, or your local tenant legal aid organization, can help you evaluate a protective order and any lease-related claims based on your full history with this landlord.
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Courts & Legal Aid in Texas
- File or look up a case through the Texas Judicial Branch, which serves the state.
- Get free civil legal help from TexasLawHelp.
- Use the LSC — Find Legal Aid to find a local legal-aid office by ZIP code.
- Use the LawHelp.org to browse free legal information and self-help resources.
- Use the ABA Lawyer Referral Directory to get matched with a local attorney through your state bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the police do anything if I haven't recorded the calls?
Yes, a documented log with dates, times, and details is still valuable evidence, even without recordings. Texas generally lets you record your own phone calls, since only one party to the call needs to consent, but never record calls you are not a part of.
Can I withhold rent because of the harassment?
Not automatically. Rent withholding in Texas has specific legal requirements unrelated to harassment, usually tied to repair issues, so don't stop paying rent without talking to an attorney first.
Can I break my lease because of this?
Possibly, depending on how severe and ongoing the harassment is and what your lease says, but breaking a lease without following the right legal steps can expose you to being charged for remaining rent. Talk to an attorney before deciding to move out.
