Organization (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 Units Property shares	Dec. 31, 2015 shares
Organization [Line Items]
Common partnership units and equivalents outstanding | shares	156,605,152
Shares of Common Stock outstanding | shares	156,605,152	156,326,416
Percentage of the Aimco Operating Partnership's common partnership units and equivalents owned by Aimco	95.20%
Conventional Real Estate [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of owned apartment communities in segments | Property	139
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	40,376
Percentage of proportionate property net operating income generated by segment	90.00%
Conventional Real Estate [Member] | Wholly And Partially Owned Consolidated Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of owned apartment communities in segments | Property	135
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	40,234
Affordable Real Estate [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of owned apartment communities in segments | Property	56
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	8,685
Percentage of proportionate property net operating income generated by segment	10.00%
Affordable Real Estate [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 | Units	7,998
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Common partnership units and equivalents outstanding | shares	164,450,933