Old Landlord Retaliation

Hey everyone. I’m posting here because I could really use some legal advice — and honestly, just some support too. I’m in Texas, and 24 days after moving out of a place I rented for four years, my old landlord suddenly texted me threatening to send photos of the unit to CPS and my new landlord, saying we left it “nasty.”

We haven’t lived there since May 31, and I haven’t seen any proof or photos from him. I’m confused, anxious, and not sure what I should be doing next.

From March 2021 to May 2025, I lived in a small house with my wife, two kids, and our dogs. We had a verbal rental agreement — no lease, just an understanding with the original landlord (his dad). His son eventually took over managing the place, but nothing changed formally.

The living situation wasn’t great. The water came from rainwater tanks, which were supposedly “treated,” but I never really knew how. It would run out during droughts, and in the winter, the pipes would freeze and burst. The water smelled off, so we didn’t trust it for drinking or cooking — we bought bottled water for that. There was no mailbox, the hot water often went out, and the entire electrical system was rigged through six 20-amp breakers connected to an RV hookup. It honestly never felt like a stable or safe setup, but it’s what we could afford at the time. There was a roach infestation that started early and got worse over time. I tried everything I could — traps, baits, cleaning — but the place wasn’t sealed well, and it was right by the neighborhood trash bins. I was too embarrassed and scared to formally complain. I thought if I spoke up, we might get kicked out — and I couldn’t risk that with a family to take care of.

In December 2023, the electricity went out on half the house (including the kitchen and bathroom). The landlord came in to fix it — it took him about five days. While he was there, he would’ve clearly seen the state of the home, including the roaches. But he never said anything. He just finished the repair and left.

By mid-May 2025, we were finally able to move. My wife asked him for a tenant reference for our new place, and he gave it — no issues, no complaints. On May 31, we moved out. I cleaned as much as I could and tried to leave it decently. We had to leave behind a few things (a mattress, a table, clothes) because we couldn’t move them, but we didn’t just abandon the place. There was no final walk-through, no inspection, no word from him after we left.

On June 8, he messaged asking if rent was due — I think he didn’t even realize we had moved. Then on June 23, he suddenly sends a message saying the place was left “nasty” and threatens to send photos to CPS and my new landlord. That caught me totally off guard. It’s been weeks, and the unit’s been sitting vacant in Texas heat. I have no idea what he’s talking about — and still, he hasn’t sent a single photo or detail.

Can he actually report me to CPS for a place I no longer live in?

Can he just contact my new landlord and say these things without proof?

Is this retaliation, and what rights do I have under a verbal lease in Texas?

Should I respond or just keep documenting everything and stay quiet?

I’ve started putting together a timeline with all the texts, the repairs, and everything that happened while we were there. I’m just trying to keep my family safe and focus on our new start. We didn’t leave that place perfect — I’ll admit that — but we didn’t trash it, and I did my best to clean and be responsible. The conditions were never good to begin with, and that’s why we left.

I’d really appreciate any advice, support, or similar experiences. This has been a stressful few days, and I’m just trying to do the right thing here.

Thanks for reading. ???????? Location: Austin,Texas