The cash inflow associated with the decrease in lender hold backs for improvements.

No definition available.

Name:	iret_DecreaseInLenderHoldbacksForImprovements
Namespace Prefix:	iret_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Impairment of real estate continuing and discontinued operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iret_ImpairmentOfRealEstateContinuingAndDiscontinuedOperations
Namespace Prefix:	iret_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the increase in lender hold backs for improvements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iret_IncreaseLenderHoldbacksForImprovements
Namespace Prefix:	iret_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iret_LenderHoldbacksAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	iret_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of impaired properties for the fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iret_NumberOfImpairedProperties
Namespace Prefix:	iret_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentChargesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsAndChangesInAccountingPrinciplesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of real estate investment property which may include the following: (1) land available-for-sale; (2) land available-for-development; (3) investments in building and building improvements; (4) tenant allowances; (5) developments in-process; (6) rental properties; and (7) other real estate investments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAtCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=iret_UnimprovedLandMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=iret_ImpairedPropertyWillistonNdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=iret_MultiFamilyResidentialMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=iret_ImpairedPropertyOneWillistonNdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=iret_ImpairedPropertyTwoWillistonNdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=iret_ImpairedPropertyThreeWillistonNdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_DisposalGroupHeldforsaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Real Estate Properties (Details)	6 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($) property	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($)
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Property owned	$ 1,831,181,000		$ 1,677,481,000
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract]
Impairment of real estate investments	256,000	$ 54,153,000
LENDER HOLDBACKS
Decrease in lender holdbacks for improvements	1,444,000	1,925,000
Increase in lender holdbacks for improvements	513,000	614,000
Unimproved Land [Member] \| Williston, ND - property [Member]
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract]
Impairment of real estate investments		$ 2,800,000
Number of impaired properties \| property		1
Interest in joint venture (as a percent)		70.00%
Multi-Family Residential [Member] \| Williston, ND - property [Member]
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract]
Number of impaired properties \| property		3
Multi-Family Residential [Member] \| Williston, ND - property 1 [Member]
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract]
Impairment of real estate investments		$ 40,900,000
Interest in joint venture (as a percent)		71.50%
Multi-Family Residential [Member] \| Williston, ND - property 2 [Member]
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract]
Impairment of real estate investments		$ 5,800,000
Multi-Family Residential [Member] \| Williston, ND - property 3 [Member]
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract]
Impairment of real estate investments		$ 4,700,000
Interest in joint venture (as a percent)		60.00%
Assets Held for Sale [Member] \| Unimproved Land [Member]
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract]
Impairment of real estate investments	$ 256,000