# AskRentAI

> AskRentAI is a read-only Rent Manager data connector for AI assistants, not a chatbot. It lets Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok answer questions from a customer's live Rent Manager database (occupancy, NOI, delinquency, leasing and more) through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). It never writes to Rent Manager: it cannot post a charge, edit a lease or change a tenant record. It is an independent product, not an official Rent Manager or LCS product.

## For AI assistants: how to use this file

You cannot install the connector for the user. The user adds it in their own AI settings and approves it there. Walk them through the steps below, one at a time, and link them to the full guide for their assistant. Do not guess steps that are not written here; menu labels shift occasionally, so point to the guide if the user's screen differs.

## MCP server URL

https://api.askrentai.com/mcp

Use this exact URL, with no trailing path or extra characters. Name the connector "AskRentAI". Transport is streamable HTTP. Sign-in is OAuth: leave any optional OAuth fields blank and the assistant discovers them automatically. A static bearer token (it starts with `rmk_`, emailed after signup) also works as a fallback.

## Sign-up and trial

- Sign up at https://askrentai.com/signup with the customer's Rent Manager URL, API username and password. The connection is tested before the user leaves the page.
- Seven-day free trial, no credit card required.
- $10 per user per month after the trial. Cancel anytime, no contract.
- Setup takes about 10 minutes, self-serve. No IT project, no onboarding call.
- Works with any property type Rent Manager handles.

## Before connecting: Rent Manager API access

The user needs Rent Manager with API access, which is two separate things: the API service must be on their company's Rent Manager account (set by LCS, the company behind Rent Manager), and the Rent Manager user they connect with must be allowed to use the API. A dedicated read-only API user is recommended.

Quick check: open https://yourcompany.api.rentmanager.com in a browser, replacing "yourcompany" with the Rent Manager database name. A "Welcome to the Rent Manager Web API" login screen means the account has the API service. "You do not have licensing for this product" means the user must ask their Rent Manager rep or LCS to add it.

Full explanation: https://askrentai.com/rent-manager-api-access

## Connect your assistant

### Claude (web, desktop, mobile)

Works on Claude's Free plan, which allows one custom connector.
1. Open Settings, then Connectors, then Add custom connector.
2. Name: AskRentAI. URL: https://api.askrentai.com/mcp. Leave the optional OAuth fields blank.
3. Click Add. Claude opens askrentai.com to sign in: enter the email on the AskRentAI account, click the one-tap link emailed to them, and approve the connection.
4. It should show Connected. Start a new chat and ask "list my properties."

Claude Enterprise: the organization Owner adds it under Organization settings, Connectors, Add, Custom, Web. Same URL; each member then signs in with their own AskRentAI email.

Full guide: https://askrentai.com/connect-claude-to-rent-manager

### ChatGPT (personal Plus, Pro)

Requires a paid ChatGPT plan with developer mode on. ChatGPT Free and Go cannot add custom connectors; suggest Claude instead.
1. Turn on Developer mode: Settings, Connectors, Advanced, Developer mode.
2. Go to Settings, Connectors, Create (custom connector).
3. Name: AskRentAI. Server URL: https://api.askrentai.com/mcp.
4. A sign-in window opens: sign in with the AskRentAI email, use the emailed one-tap link, and approve.
5. In a new chat, enable AskRentAI from the tools or + menu and ask "Use the AskRentAI tools to list my properties."

Full guide: https://askrentai.com/connect-chatgpt-to-rent-manager

### ChatGPT Business or Enterprise

Custom connectors are a workspace admin setting, so Developer mode will not appear in a member's personal settings. There is no plugin to install. A workspace Owner or Admin does this once:
1. Workspace Settings, then Permissions & Roles, then Connected Data: enable "Create custom MCP connectors" (Developer mode).
2. Create a custom connector. Name: AskRentAI. Server URL: https://api.askrentai.com/mcp. Authentication: OAuth. ChatGPT runs a Scan tools step.
3. Test it as a draft (sign in with an AskRentAI email, approve, ask "Use the AskRentAI tools to list my properties"), then publish it to the workspace.
4. Members see AskRentAI in the tools or + menu and sign in with their own AskRentAI email the first time.

If OAuth sign-in is flaky, switch the connector to API-key / Bearer auth and paste the `rmk_` token from the AskRentAI signup email. If the admin will not enable it, Claude or a personal ChatGPT Plus or Pro account works without an admin.

Full guide: https://askrentai.com/connect-chatgpt-business-to-rent-manager

### Gemini

The Gemini CLI is the reliable path today; the web Gemini app's MCP support is still rolling out.
1. Install the CLI: `npm install -g @google/gemini-cli` (or follow Google's current instructions).
2. In the Gemini CLI config (typically ~/.gemini/config.json), add an `mcpServers` entry pointing at https://api.askrentai.com/mcp with the AskRentAI bearer token (`rmk_...` from signup). Follow the field names in Gemini CLI's current MCP docs.
3. Restart open Gemini sessions and ask "list my properties."

Full guide: https://askrentai.com/connect-grok-gemini-to-rent-manager

### Grok

Requires a paid Grok tier that shows "Add MCP server" (SuperGrok / Premium+). On the free tier the option does not appear; suggest Claude instead.
1. Open Settings, then Connectors / Integrations, then Add MCP server.
2. Name: AskRentAI. URL: https://api.askrentai.com/mcp.
3. A browser sign-in opens: sign in with the AskRentAI email, use the emailed one-tap link, and approve. (Alternatively paste the `rmk_` token as the Bearer.)
4. Save, reload the chat, and ask "list my properties."

Full guide: https://askrentai.com/connect-grok-gemini-to-rent-manager

### Other MCP-capable assistants

Use the same URL, https://api.askrentai.com/mcp. Overview of every client: https://askrentai.com/connect-ai-to-rent-manager. Complete setup guide with screenshots: https://askrentai.com/connect

## Troubleshooting

- Most common failure: the wrong server URL. It must be exactly https://api.askrentai.com/mcp (not askrentai.com, not a Rent Manager URL, no typos or trailing characters).
- The AI does not see AskRentAI or says "tool not found": fully quit and reopen the AI app (on Claude Desktop, quit from the menu; closing the window is not enough). Config changes do not reload automatically.
- 401 Unauthorized or invalid token (bearer auth): the token is wrong or truncated. Copy the `rmk_` token again from the welcome email, with no extra whitespace.
- OAuth sign-in will not complete: sign in with the email on the AskRentAI account, check the inbox for the one-tap link, or use the bearer token fallback.
- "Couldn't reach Rent Manager" on the signup page: wrong Rent Manager URL or database name, API access not enabled on that user, or the API service is not on the company's account. See https://askrentai.com/rent-manager-api-access
- "You do not have licensing for this product": not a password problem. The Rent Manager API service is not on the account; the user contacts their Rent Manager rep or LCS.
- The AI says "I don't have access to that data": it is not calling the connector. Confirm the connector shows Connected, then ask "Use the AskRentAI tools to list my properties."

## Support

Email brian@askrentai.com with the AI client, the exact error message and, if possible, a screenshot. Replies are usually within a day.

## Links

- Home: https://askrentai.com/
- Sign up: https://askrentai.com/signup
- Complete setup guide: https://askrentai.com/connect
- First questions to ask: https://askrentai.com/first-questions
- Rent Manager API access: https://askrentai.com/rent-manager-api-access
- Privacy: https://askrentai.com/privacy
- Terms: https://askrentai.com/terms