Discontinued operations (Details Narrative) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2014 South Brunswick property [Member]	Jan. 31, 2014 Heights Manor Apartments [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Heights Manor Apartments [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Palisades Manor Apartments [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Grandview Apartments [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Federal [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 State [Member]
Date of disposal					Dec. 20, 2013		Aug. 29, 2012	Apr. 26, 2013	Aug. 13, 2013
Status of disposal					On December 20, 2013, FREIT's South Brunswick property, which consisted of vacant land, was sold		On August 29, 2012, FREIT sold its Heights Manor Apartments in Spring Lake Heights, NJ.	On April 26, 2013, FREIT sold its Palisades Manor Apartments in Palisades Park, New Jersey.	On August 13, 2013, FREIT sold its Grandview Apartments in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.
Sale of property					$ 11,000			$ 1,600	$ 2,500
Capital gain on sale of apartments					8,700		9,500	1,400	2,200
Net proceeds on sale of business					9,800
Distributions to shareholders						1,400	5,000
Undistributed gain							4,500
Income taxes on undistributed gains										1,500	400
Income tax adjustment on gain on sale of discontinued operation				(720)		(720)
Revenue from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 77	$ 0	$ 306