(edit title) Selling a first-hand contract... Is it acceptable in Sweden? Options

[Keithy]

Is this the done thing? If so, how much should it be?

I ask as someone I know may be able to get a first-hand contract on a flat, but for a price. Apparently the current tenant can pick who takes over the flat and wants money from the person that does.

Opinions?

[bobthedog]

Not the done thing at all. Illegal

[Yorkshireman]

I ask as someone I know may be able to get a first-hand contract on a flat, but for a price. Apparently the current tenant can pick who takes over the flat and wants money from the person that does.

The tenant does not have the right to decide who can take over the contract, unless it is specifically given by the landlord, which it rarely is.

[Puffin]

Some people get involved in black market contracts but if you risk losing the contract and the money

[Bender B Rodriquez]

Apparently the current tenant can pick who takes over the flat and wants money from the person that does.

This sounds like a scam. In illegal dealings like this it is almost never the tenant that can pick who takes over the flat. Either the deal is through a fake flat transfer, i.e. the tenant arranges so it looks to the landlord that you and the tenant switches flats, or the bribe is taken by someone working for the landlord.

[Keithy]

No, it's not a scam. I know that in this case the tenant can basically decide who takes the flat over, subject to satisfactory references etc. He checked with the landlord and they couldn't care less, apparently. Strange, but true.

[Yorkshireman]

i.e. the tenant arranges so it looks to the landlord that you and the tenant switches flats...

...another common one is that the current contract holder asks the landlord to put you on the contract as their sambo ... then after a period of time (6-12 months?), says the relationship is over, and the sambo (You) are keeping the apartment. Both keep the address as their registered address during that time.

You are basically just giving the current holder money ... that is always a risk! Since they are not really selling anything!

On the otherside of the coin ... landlords are aware of these things ...and whilst they may not always catch it before it happens, they will certainly recognise the pattern of ownership change requests ... which means they will keep a closer eye on You, making it very difficult for you to recover any investment made paying for the deal ... they know You might try the same thing.