Legal action against PM

[Adam Orlebeck]

I am an out of state investor. I am in CA and I have a SFH in Ft. Worth, TX. I hired a PM in June 2020 and all had been ok until November 2020. November's rent payment to me was not made and called / emailed and received excuses like system glitches. I have been hounding them and since Thanksgiving they have not returned calls or emails. Company uses Buildium so I can see the rent has been getting paid by tenants. Nov, Dec, and Jan all have been paid in full to PM. I filed a complaint with TREC (Texas Real Estate Commission) and am waiting on their findings. I have also contacted an attorney. The attorney's retainer is more than I am owed in rent so I am wondering what I can do myself before incurring more costs? What is the best way to contact tenant to advise them not to pay PM and send rent directly to me? If that is even legal as I have never owned property outside CA or used a PM before. If I was to cut off PM from tenant, would I be opening myself up to any backlash or lawsuits as a breach of contract since I signed year long PM Agreement? Any help would be greatly appreciated.