I have experienced subletting working under some very restrictive and specific conditions.  

If something breaks in the unit, they should not pay a deductible in my opinion.

Here’s what I do with my rentals:I either have tenants split the utility bills or include a clause in the lease that states if the gas or water bill exceeds a specific amount ($X), the tenant will be responsible for the overage, provided there are no leaks or other infrastructure issues contributing to the high usage.To determine this $X amount:Water: I take the highest water bill I’ve had over the past year (excluding periods where leaks occurred) and add about $15 to account for small fluctuations or potential increases.Gas: For gas, I calculate the median bill during the winter (when usage is highest) and the median bill in the summer (when usage is typically lowest).

I'm not sure if it's these guys specifically but people are paying $5,000 for some S8 guru.It's insane.Section 8 is not complex.

I am not obliged to go with that specific local bank that the builder is recommending.

Let me know if you have any specific questions about how it works.

Are there specific strategies you’re implementing now to either safeguard your portfolio or take advantage of potential opportunities post-election?

Which specific one have you had success with?

I'm hoping to secure a fix & flip for my next deal and I'm looking out of state (specifically in Oklahoma).

Those goals are very specific to my situation and not necessarily applicable to other investors.