Segment information (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jun. 12, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($) properties	Jul. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) properties	Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($) properties segments	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) properties	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($) properties
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue		$ 14,847	$ 14,631	$ 14,325	$ 14,194	$ 13,691	$ 12,680	$ 12,664	$ 12,599	$ 57,997	$ 51,634	$ 46,254
Real estate operating expenses										38,703	39,651	31,683
Operating income										19,294	11,983	14,571
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Segment NOI										32,509	24,767	23,849
Gain on sale of property											15,395	314
Loan prepayment costs relating to property sale	$ 1,100										(1,139)
Deferred rents - straight lining										605	634	608
Lease termination fee											620
Investment income										267	206	150
Unrealized gain on interest rate cap contract										72
General and administrative expenses										(2,305)	(2,129)	(2,034)
Depreciation										(11,515)	(10,669)	(7,852)
Financing costs										(18,667)	(15,762)	(11,936)
Net income		348	111	1,427	(920)	(373)	13,101	(1,701)	(344)	966	10,683	3,099
Amortization of acquired leases
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		85	181	(312)	563	371	653	1,002	407	517	2,433	(94)
Net income attributable to common equity		$ 433	$ 292	$ 1,115	$ (357)	$ (2)	$ 13,754	$ (699)	$ 63	$ 1,483	$ 13,116	$ 3,005
Number of reportable segments | segments										2
Gain on sale of discontinued operations										$ 15,400
Commercial [Member]
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Number of properties | properties		9				9				9	9	9
Residential [Member]
Reportable Segments
Recurring capital improvements - residential										$ (738)	$ (798)	$ (898)
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Number of properties | properties		8				7				8	7	8
Unit apartment complex [Member]
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Number of properties | properties												379
Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue										$ 57,392	$ 51,000	$ 45,646
Real estate operating expenses										24,883	26,233	21,797
Operating income										32,509	24,767	23,849
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Segment NOI										32,509	24,767	23,849
Operating Segments [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue										25,464	24,114	22,694
Real estate operating expenses										11,861	11,791	10,661
Operating income										13,603	12,323	12,033
Operating Segments [Member] | Residential [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue										31,928	26,886	22,952
Real estate operating expenses										13,022	14,442	11,136
Operating income										$ 18,906	$ 12,444	$ 11,816