Segment information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2020 USD ($) properties	Jul. 31, 2020 USD ($)		Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($) properties	Jul. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2020 USD ($) segments properties	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($) properties	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($) properties
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue	$ 11,297	$ 12,149	[1]	$ 13,688	$ 15,593	$ 15,308	$ 15,255	$ 14,786	$ 14,928	$ 52,727	$ 60,277	$ 57,997
Real estate operating expenses										48,967	41,450	38,703
Operating income										3,760	18,827	19,294
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Deferred rents - straight lining										(397)	410	605
Investment income										204	360	267
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate cap contract											(160)	72
Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses										(4,606)	(1,416)
Gain on sale of property											836
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary										27,680
Loss on investment in tenancy-in-common										(202)
General and administrative expenses										(3,821)	(2,633)	(2,305)
Depreciation										(10,341)	(11,339)	(11,515)
Tenant improvement write-off due to COVID-19										(7,277)
Financing costs										(14,122)	(18,070)	(18,667)
Net income	(7,475)	(320)		27,136	(2,021)	263	265	830	435	17,320	1,793	966
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,251	139		84	(241)	80	(66)	(44)	24	3,233	(6)	517
Net income attributable to common equity	$ (4,224)	$ (181)		$ 27,220	$ (2,262)	$ 343	$ 199	$ 786	$ 459	$ 20,553	$ 1,787	$ 1,483
Number of reportable segments | segments										2
Commercial [Member]
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Number of properties | properties	8					8				8	8	9
Residential [Member]
Reportable Segments
Recurring capital improvements - residential										$ (347)	$ (685)	$ (738)
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Number of properties | properties	7					8				7	8	8
Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue										$ 53,124	$ 59,867	$ 57,392
Real estate operating expenses										22,922	26,062	24,883
Operating income										30,202	33,805	32,509
Reconciliation to consolidated net income attributable to common equity:
Segment NOI										30,202	33,805	32,509
Operating Segments [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue										24,486	26,692	25,464
Real estate operating expenses										11,334	11,694	11,861
Operating income										13,152	14,998	13,603
Operating Segments [Member] | Residential [Member]
Reportable Segments
Real estate rental revenue										28,638	33,175	31,928
Real estate operating expenses										11,588	14,368	13,022
Operating income										$ 17,050	$ 18,807	$ 18,906

[1] Includes impact of the rejection of the lease for Cobb Theatre at the Rotunda retail property as of June 30, 2020 resulting in the reversal against revenue of uncollected rents in the amount of approximately $0.3 million and a straight-line rent receivable of approximately $0.4 million and the write-off of unamortized leasing commissions in the amount of approximately $0.2 million resulting in a net impact of approximately $0.9 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.5 million). ($0.07 per share)