My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: California
I'm buying a Laundromat and find out the seller does not has lease agreement with the uppermost landlord/owner of the premises, but instead has the sublease with the first business owner, which is the original tenant/ current leaseholder. This current leaseholder has always overcharged the seller’s rent over its agreement with the landlord. Also even though the lease between the landlord and the current leasehold states " Tenant further agrees to reimburse for all reasonable expenses including but not limited to administrative, processing and attorney’s fees incurred by landlord with respect to any request for Landlord's consent to any assignment, subletting or other transfers. Such expenses in no event shall be more than $500", the current leaseholds, not the landlord, ask us to pay $5,000 assignment fees.
Questions: 1. is this legal for the current leaseholder to charge more rent than its pay to the landlord?
2. Is this reasonable or standard for the current lease holder to ask ten times assignment fees as the landlord asks?
3. Could I contact and request to have lease with landlord directly?
Thank you so much for your reply and time in advance.

