Can landlord force me to re-apply for my apt?

Can my landlord force me to re-apply for my rent stabilized apartment to take someone off my lease? I have been in this unit since 2004. I had a roommate for a few years, and after he moved out I asked my management to remove him from the lease. They did this with a written letter from my roommate. In 2012 I got married and added my spouse to the lease, we divorced in 2016 after we had already... [more]

Can my landlord force me to re-apply for my rent stabilized apartment to take someone off my lease? I have been in this unit since 2004. I had a roommate for a few years, and after he moved out I asked my management to remove him from the lease. They did this with a written letter from my roommate. In 2012 I got married and added my spouse to the lease, we divorced in 2016 after we had already renewed the lease for 2 years. I now just got my lease renewal and want to sign but want to take my ex off the lease. He has provided me with a notarized letter stating he no longer lives in the unit and that the deposit on the unit is solely mine. My landlord now says I need to re-apply to be in this unit, as I must prove I can afford the rent on my own. This would cost $100 in application fees and he would do a hard search into my credit score, which would lower my credit score. Can me force me to do this or are there any rule saying he can't start the whole process just to take a name off the lease. [less]