Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Commitments In connection with our redevelopment and capital improvement activities, we have entered into various construction related contracts. Additionally, pursuant to financing and/or other arrangements on our One Canal Street, Lincoln Place, Pacific Bay Vistas and The Preserve at Marin projects we are contractually obligated to complete the planned activities. As of March 31, 2014, our commitments related to these capital activities totaled approximately $302.1 million, over half of which we expect to incur during the next 12 months. We also enter into certain commitments for future purchases of goods and services in connection with the operations of our apartment communities. Those commitments generally have terms of one year or less and reflect expenditure levels comparable to our historical expenditures. Tax Credit Arrangements We are required to manage certain consolidated real estate partnerships in compliance with various laws, regulations and contractual provisions that apply to our historic and low-income housing tax credit syndication arrangements. In some instances, noncompliance with applicable requirements could result in projected tax benefits not being realized and require a refund or reduction of investor capital contributions, which are reported as deferred income in our condensed consolidated balance sheet, until such time as our obligation to deliver tax benefits is relieved. The remaining compliance periods for our tax credit syndication arrangements range from less than one year to 12 years. We do not anticipate that any material refunds or reductions of investor capital contributions will be required in connection with these arrangements. Income Taxes On October 25, 2012, the Internal Revenue Service issued Final Partnership Administrative Adjustments with respect to the Aimco Operating Partnership’s 2006 and 2007 tax years. On January 18, 2013, AIMCO-GP, Inc., in its capacity as tax matters partner of the Aimco Operating Partnership, filed a petition challenging those adjustments in the United States Tax Court in Washington, D.C. On December 20, 2013, the parties agreed on the terms of a settlement of that litigation. The parties are in the process of documenting that settlement. The settlement regarding the 2006 or 2007 proposed adjustments will not have any material effect on our unrecognized tax benefits, financial condition or results of operations. On March 19, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service notified the Aimco Operating Partnership of its intent to audit the 2011 and 2012 tax years. We do not believe the audit will have any material effect on our unrecognized tax benefits, financial condition or results of operations. Legal Matters In addition to the matters described below, we are a party to various legal actions and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which are covered by our general liability insurance program, and none of which we expect to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Limited Partnerships In connection with our acquisitions of interests in real estate partnerships, we are sometimes subject to legal actions, including allegations that such activities may involve breaches of fiduciary duties to the partners of such real estate partnerships or violations of the relevant partnership agreements. We may incur costs in connection with the defense or settlement of such litigation. We believe that we comply with our fiduciary obligations and relevant partnership agreements. Although the outcome of any litigation is uncertain, we do not expect any such legal actions to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Environmental Various federal, state and local laws subject apartment community owners or operators to liability for management, and the costs of removal or remediation, of certain potentially hazardous materials present on an apartment community, including lead-based paint, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum-based fuels, and other miscellaneous materials. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release or presence of such materials. The presence of, or the failure to manage or remedy properly, these materials may adversely affect occupancy at affected apartment communities and the ability to sell or finance affected apartment communities. In addition to the costs associated with investigation and remediation actions brought by government agencies, and potential fines or penalties imposed by such agencies in connection therewith, the improper management of these materials on an apartment community could result in claims by private plaintiffs for personal injury, disease, disability or other infirmities. Various laws also impose liability for the cost of removal, remediation or disposal of these materials through a licensed disposal or treatment facility. Anyone who arranges for the disposal or treatment of these materials is potentially liable under such laws for the proper operation of the disposal facility. These laws often impose liability whether or not the person arranging for the disposal ever owned or operated the disposal facility. In connection with the ownership, operation and management of apartment communities, we could potentially be responsible for environmental liabilities or costs associated with our apartment communities or communities we acquire or manage in the future. We have determined that our legal obligations to remove or remediate certain potentially hazardous materials may be conditional asset retirement obligations, as defined in GAAP. Except in limited circumstances where the asset retirement activities are expected to be performed in connection with a planned construction project or apartment community casualty, we believe that the fair value of our asset retirement obligations cannot be reasonably estimated due to significant uncertainties in the timing and manner of settlement of those obligations. Asset retirement obligations that are reasonably estimable as of March 31, 2014, are immaterial to our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments

In connection with our redevelopment and capital improvement activities, we have entered into various construction related contracts. Additionally, pursuant to financing and/or other arrangements on our One Canal Street, Lincoln Place, Pacific Bay Vistas and The Preserve at Marin projects we are contractually obligated to complete the planned activities. As of March 31, 2014, our commitments related to these capital activities totaled approximately $302.1 million, over half of which we expect to incur during the next 12 months. We also enter into certain commitments for future purchases of goods and services in connection with the operations of our apartment communities. Those commitments generally have terms of one year or less and reflect expenditure levels comparable to our historical expenditures.

Tax Credit Arrangements

We are required to manage certain consolidated real estate partnerships in compliance with various laws, regulations and contractual provisions that apply to our historic and low-income housing tax credit syndication arrangements. In some instances, noncompliance with applicable requirements could result in projected tax benefits not being realized and require a refund or reduction of investor capital contributions, which are reported as deferred income in our condensed consolidated balance sheet, until such time as our obligation to deliver tax benefits is relieved. The remaining compliance periods for our tax credit syndication arrangements range from less than one year to 12 years. We do not anticipate that any material refunds or reductions of investor capital contributions will be required in connection with these arrangements.

Income Taxes

On October 25, 2012, the Internal Revenue Service issued Final Partnership Administrative Adjustments with respect to the Aimco Operating Partnership’s 2006 and 2007 tax years. On January 18, 2013, AIMCO-GP, Inc., in its capacity as tax matters partner of the Aimco Operating Partnership, filed a petition challenging those adjustments in the United States Tax Court in Washington, D.C. On December 20, 2013, the parties agreed on the terms of a settlement of that litigation. The parties are in the process of documenting that settlement. The settlement regarding the 2006 or 2007 proposed adjustments will not have any material effect on our unrecognized tax benefits, financial condition or results of operations.

On March 19, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service notified the Aimco Operating Partnership of its intent to audit the 2011 and 2012 tax years. We do not believe the audit will have any material effect on our unrecognized tax benefits, financial condition or results of operations.

Legal Matters

In addition to the matters described below, we are a party to various legal actions and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which are covered by our general liability insurance program, and none of which we expect to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Limited Partnerships

In connection with our acquisitions of interests in real estate partnerships, we are sometimes subject to legal actions, including allegations that such activities may involve breaches of fiduciary duties to the partners of such real estate partnerships or violations of the relevant partnership agreements. We may incur costs in connection with the defense or settlement of such litigation. We believe that we comply with our fiduciary obligations and relevant partnership agreements. Although the outcome of any litigation is uncertain, we do not expect any such legal actions to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Environmental

Various federal, state and local laws subject apartment community owners or operators to liability for management, and the costs of removal or remediation, of certain potentially hazardous materials present on an apartment community, including lead-based paint, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum-based fuels, and other miscellaneous materials. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release or presence of such materials. The presence of, or the failure to manage or remedy properly, these materials may adversely affect occupancy at affected apartment communities and the ability to sell or finance affected apartment communities. In addition to the costs associated with investigation and remediation actions brought by government agencies, and potential fines or penalties imposed by such agencies in connection therewith, the improper management of these materials on an apartment community could result in claims by private plaintiffs for personal injury, disease, disability or other infirmities. Various laws also impose liability for the cost of removal, remediation or disposal of these materials through a licensed disposal or treatment facility. Anyone who arranges for the disposal or treatment of these materials is potentially liable under such laws for the proper operation of the disposal facility. These laws often impose liability whether or not the person arranging for the disposal ever owned or operated the disposal facility. In connection with the ownership, operation and management of apartment communities, we could potentially be responsible for environmental liabilities or costs associated with our apartment communities or communities we acquire or manage in the future.

We have determined that our legal obligations to remove or remediate certain potentially hazardous materials may be conditional asset retirement obligations, as defined in GAAP. Except in limited circumstances where the asset retirement activities are expected to be performed in connection with a planned construction project or apartment community casualty, we believe that the fair value of our asset retirement obligations cannot be reasonably estimated due to significant uncertainties in the timing and manner of settlement of those obligations. Asset retirement obligations that are reasonably estimable as of March 31, 2014, are immaterial to our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.