Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	May 06, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2021
Entity File Number	001-31568
Entity Registrant Name	New England Realty Associates Limited Partnership
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MA
Entity Tax Identification Number	04-2619298
Entity Address, Address Line One	39 Brighton Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Allston
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	02134
City Area Code	617
Local Phone Number	783-0039
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A
Trading Symbol	NEN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0000746514
Amendment Flag	false
Class A
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		97,405
Class B
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		23,134