Alternatively you can also do a FHA loan and cough up the PMI for a lower down, 4%?  

Alternatively, I am not familiar with the real estate market in your area and it may make more sense to transition to a full-time real estate agent.

They must either employ an alternative method which I said before is not as reliable by a long-shot or, they use their own judgement.

. - If your resident has not paid rent, you need to make a connection with your mortgage holder and discuss alternative plans while you are not able to collect full rent.  

It is natural gas for fuel, also the stove.

I would highly recommend checking out the Black Diamond REI events in Worcester - they do one every other month (alternating with a meet up in Burlington, MA).

Me thinks you need to:a - Look for deals in different markets or using different strategies if deals are falling through,b - Use alternative forms of financing (not cash), if loans are freezing,c - Hang out with different people, if you're surrounded by skepticism, d - ...and look for long term budget corrections, so you can be prepared for something like this (not the source but the impact of this temporary situation) in the future...should it happen again.

Alternately ask for proof of switch over, particularly if it is heat. 

Are there any better alternatives?

@Ondrej Brown I would agree with @Jaysen Medhurst RE- exploring alternatives to FHA.