but you will find a productive path forward.

You still have: 1. Call a decision maker at the apartment and make the following case: "come on, man! Did you know this provision was in here? Seems a bit over the top given the language in the contract." Don't forget that there is a good chance that being nice by itself could work. There is also a chance that whoever you talked to before was confused and made it sound worse than it is. For example, if it's a one-time 85%x 1month rent transfer fee, that is less crazy and a jarbled explanation of this could easily turn into the policy you outlined above.
2. Pursue legal or housing office complaints.
3. Name and shame. I usually don't like this, but it might help the landlord slough off the least defensible parts of what he is doing. I think people can appreciate the need to run a business while also supporting the idea that you can't just make up a totally abusive transfer policy that is described only vaguely in the contract.

Godspeed. Let it be known I came out in favor of peace.