Individually Significant Dispositions - Results of Operations Attributable to Starwood Transaction (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
REVENUES
Rental income	$ 623,951	$ 605,856	$ 1,840,170	$ 1,816,960
Total revenues	624,122	606,074	1,840,702	1,820,311
EXPENSES
Property and maintenance	104,721	104,216	306,645	309,688
Real estate taxes and insurance	84,087	81,343	253,318	238,954
Property management	20,861	19,517	64,702	64,003
General and administrative	12,567	12,395	40,366	47,408
Total expenses	406,336	396,701	1,207,995	1,188,295
Operating income	217,786	209,373	632,707	632,016
Interest and other income	3,945	5,509	5,708	65,092
Interest:
Expense incurred, net	(91,145)	(86,352)	(288,579)	(386,316)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(2,064)	(2,261)	(6,447)	(10,000)
Income and other tax (expense) benefit	(228)	(426)	(710)	(1,189)
Net gain (loss) on sales of real estate properties	17,328	90,036	141,761	3,870,871
Income from operations attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership	(5,166)	(8,353)	(17,931)	(160,442)
Net income attributable to controlling interests	$ 138,229	208,316	$ 478,012	4,014,913
Starwood Portfolio [Member] | Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations [Member]
REVENUES
Rental income		239		30,660
Total revenues		239		30,660
EXPENSES
Property and maintenance		(84)		7,839
Real estate taxes and insurance		1		2,933
Property management		0		2
General and administrative		4		19
Total expenses		(79)		10,793
Operating income		318		19,867
Interest and other income		10		21
Interest:
Expense incurred, net		(6)		(380)
Amortization of deferred financing costs		0		(707)
Income and other tax (expense) benefit		0		(1)
Net gain (loss) on sales of real estate properties		(103)		3,161,097
Income from operations attributable to controlling interests – Operating Partnership		219		3,179,897
Income from operations attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership		(8)		(122,146)
Net income attributable to controlling interests		$ 211		$ 3,057,751