payment of referral fees

[mari]

I work for an out of state (Michigan) property mngt. co. managing a 194 unit apt. community in Toledo OH. I also have my real estate license through another broker in town. My employer wants me to pay my current residents a $250 referral fee if they refer someone to live at my apt. community. I am almost certain that I learned in my real estate cl*** that it cannot be done and my real estate broker tells me that I cannot do this. I asked my employer about it and received an email today from our company attorney in another state who said that real estate law does not apply to us in regards to referral fees because the company is not a licensed brokerage. However, our parent company is owned by a real estate broker.
I need to know if I am putting my own real estate license at risk by offering this referral. Is my company acting within the law?

[ohiolandlord]

I have no idea, you may want to consult a lawyer who works in that particular area of the law.