Organization (Details Textual)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 Units Property shares	Dec. 31, 2014 shares
Organization [Line Items]
Common partnership units and equivalents outstanding | shares	156,421,276
Shares of Common Stock outstanding | shares	156,421,276	146,403,274
Percentage of the Aimco Operating Partnership's common partnership units and equivalents owned by Aimco	95.40%
Conventional Real Estate Operations [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Percentage of proportionate property net operating income generated by segment	90.00%
Affordable Real Estate Operations [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Percentage of proportionate property net operating income generated by segment	10.00%
Conventional Real Estate Operations [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of owned apartment communities in segments | Property	143
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities	41,429
Conventional Real Estate Operations [Member] | Wholly And Partially Owned Consolidated Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of owned apartment communities in segments | Property	139
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities	41,287
Affordable Real Estate Operations [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of owned apartment communities in segments | Property	56
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities	8,685
Affordable Real Estate Operations [Member] | Wholly And Partially Owned Consolidated Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of owned apartment communities in segments | Property	49
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities	7,998
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Common partnership units and equivalents outstanding | shares	164,005,054