EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
EARNINGS PER SHARE [Abstract]
Ratio of units exchanged for shares			one-for-one
Minimum holding period			1 year
NUMERATOR [Abstract]
(Loss) income from continuing operations – Investors Real Estate Trust	$ 2,426	$ 1,474	$ (22,488)	$ 5,341
Income from discontinued operations - Investors Real Estate Trust	9,174	15,192	12,445	15,865
Net income (loss) attributable to Investors Real Estate Trust	11,600	16,666	(10,043)	21,206
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(2,878)	(2,878)	(5,757)	(5,757)
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	8,722	13,788	(15,800)	15,449
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership	1,174	1,527	(2,122)	1,713
Numerator for diluted (loss) earnings per share	$ 9,896	$ 15,315	$ (17,922)	$ 17,162
DENOMINATOR [Abstract]
Denominator for basic earnings per share weighted average shares (in shares)	121,154	124,665	121,135	124,757
Effect of convertible operating partnership units (in shares)	16,264	13,900	16,276	13,929
Denominator for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	137,418	138,565	137,411	138,686
(Loss) earnings per common share from continuing operations - Investors Real Estate Trust - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)		$ (0.01)	$ (0.23)
Earnings per common share from discontinued operations - Investors Real Estate Trust - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	0.12	0.10	$ 0.12
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE – BASIC & DILUTED	$ 0.07	$ 0.11	$ (0.13)	$ 0.12