Management Company Scam

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on the legality of the following issue: My friend is leaving her apartment this month and the owner of the building has agreed that I can take over the apartment and start a new lease. The management company is demanding that I pay them 17% of a year's rent (not even the standard 15!!!) even though: 1. they did not in any way help me find... [more]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on the legality of the following issue: My friend is leaving her apartment this month and the owner of the building has agreed that I can take over the apartment and start a new lease. The management company is demanding that I pay them 17% of a year's rent (not even the standard 15!!!) even though: 1. they did not in any way help me find the apartment (have never even met anyone in person) 2. the apartment was not even listed anywhere (even when it was vacant over a year ago - so not even a co-broker…) 3. The building owner has specifically chosen me from a pool of applicants to take over the lease. I was expecting the management company to ask for 7.5% of a year as this is what my friend (the previous tenant) paid them (the other 7.5% went to the agent who helped her find the apartment). This was the exact same situation when I found my current apartment (15% divided between the management/broker and my broker) Can anyone provide advice??? Is this legal? I don't want to argue with the management company before having some more insight because I'm worried my application might mysteriously be "rejected". 17% is LUDICROUS to people who in NO way "helped" me find the apartment and who won't even answer ANY phone calls. Thanks in advance!!!! [less]