Lease Assignment Request = 2.5 Months rent?? (sublets, brokers, landlord)

[mirezny]

Hey All,
I'm in NYC and have requested a lease assignment to a qualified couple which wants to take over my rent controlled lease agreement until it ends.

My landlord just got back to me and said that they want to get two months for the first two months I lived there on a rider agreement, which gave $0 rent for 62 days. The rider makes no mention of penalties for sublets or assignment after the introductory period. On top of that, the landlord wants me to pay a brokers fee of half a month's rent, even though I've found the couple myself to assign the lease to! Is this legal??

Thanks!