Organization and significant policies (Details)	Sep. 30, 2014	Jul. 17, 2009
Organization and significant policies
Percentage of common stock by subsidiaries of ARL	80.90%
Stock of Income Opportunity Realty Investors, owns approximately over shares of common stock IOT		81.10%
Company owned residential apartment communities	36
Number of units for residential apartments	6,062
Company owned commercial properties	7
Commercial properties comprising an aggregate of approximate square feet in millions	1.8
Investment in acres of undeveloped and partially developed land.	4,015