Income taxes (Details) - USD ($)						1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 18, 2014	Dec. 20, 2013	Aug. 13, 2013	Apr. 26, 2013	Aug. 29, 2012	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013		Oct. 31, 2012
Ordinary taxable income distributed as dividends (percentage)								100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Capital gain on sale of apartments									$ 3,500,000
Income tax adjustment on gain on sale of discontinued operation										$ (720,000)	[1]
Distributions to shareholders							$ 1,400,000	$ 8,129,000	$ 10,812,000	7,637,000
South Brunswick property [Member]
Capital gain on sale of apartments		$ 8,700,000
Heights Manor Apartments [Member]
Capital gain on sale of apartments					$ 9,500,000
Income tax adjustment on gain on sale of discontinued operation										(720,000)
Distributions to shareholders					5,000,000	$ 1,400,000
Undistributed gain					$ 4,500,000
Heights Manor Apartments [Member] | Federal [Member]
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, tax effect												$ 1,500,000
Heights Manor Apartments [Member] | State [Member]
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, tax effect										$ 400,000		$ 400,000
Palisades Manor Apartments [Member]
Capital gain on sale of apartments				$ 1,400,000
Grandview Apartments [Member]
Capital gain on sale of apartments			$ 2,200,000
Regency Club Acquisition [Member]
Acquisition price	$ 20,625,000
Amount tax basis is lower than the acquisition price								$ 8,000,000

[1] Income tax adjustment relating to fiscal 2012 gain on sale of discontinued operation.