Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Real estate, accumulated depreciation	$ 175,319	[1]	$ 168,480	[1]
Deferred financing costs, accumulated amortization	27,922		26,056
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 14,995		$ 13,911
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred shares, par value	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares authorized	4,000,000		4,000,000
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued	4,000,000		2,600,000
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares outstanding	4,000,000		2,600,000
Preferred shares, authorized	25,000,000		25,000,000
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued	4,000,000
Common shares, par value	$ 0.03		$ 0.03
Common shares, shares authorized	200,000,000		200,000,000
Common shares, shares issued	82,885,444		82,506,606
Common shares, shares outstanding	82,885,444		82,506,606
Unvested restricted common share awards	742,014		541,575
7.75% Series A cumulative redeemable preferred shares
Preferred shares, authorized	8,069,288		4,760,000
Preferred shares, dividend rate	7.75%		7.75%
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, liquidation preference	$ 25.00		$ 25.00
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued	4,775,569		4,775,569
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares outstanding	4,775,569		4,775,569
Preferred shares, par value	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
8.375% Series B cumulative redeemable preferred shares
Preferred shares, authorized	4,300,000		4,300,000
Preferred shares, dividend rate	8.375%		8.375%
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, liquidation preference	$ 25		$ 25
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued	2,288,465		2,288,465
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares outstanding	2,288,465		2,288,465
Preferred shares, par value	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
8.875% Series C cumulative redeemable preferred shares
Preferred shares, authorized	3,600,000		3,600,000
Preferred shares, dividend rate	8.875%		8.875%
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, liquidation preference	$ 25.00		$ 25.00
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares issued	1,640,100		1,640,100
Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, shares outstanding	1,640,100		1,640,100
Preferred shares, par value	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Series E cumulative redeemable preferred shares
Preferred shares, authorized	4,000,000		4,000,000
Preferred shares, par value	$ 0.01		$ 0.01

[1] As of March 31, 2015, includes properties owned by Independence Realty Trust, Inc., or IRT, with a book value of $689,867 and accumulated depreciation of $27,261. As of December 31, 2014, includes properties owned by IRT, with a book value of $689,112 and accumulated depreciation of $23,376.