I have been in the same rent-stabilized unit for around 15 years, since the building was built. My lease renewal includes an insane 421a fee. On the lease it isn't even clear as it lists it as $20 per month, but then below it says $332 a month beneath that! Given what my rent is, this is exorbitant and beyond my means, and I was not warned of this ahead of time and only found out a few weeks ago. I have been trying to research this via HCR and other online resources but am very confused---I thought this would be a fee that the next leaseholder would pay? My questions are:
1. Is this legal?
2. Can this amount be charged monthly as management says, or should this be the yearly amount (which is how it looked on lease)?
3. I cannot afford this (and am unable to move right now because of medical reasons), do I have any options to pay my rent but without this fee until I move out next lease renewal?
4. They completely renovate all units after tenant moves out, I am still in my original apt and they are essentially trying to get me to pay close to market rate for an unrenovated apartment, how can I approach this?
Help needed, lease is due this month. Thank you.