Organization (Details Textual)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 Units Property shares	Dec. 31, 2015 shares
Organization [Line Items]
Common partnership units and equivalents outstanding | shares	156,887,997
Shares of Common Stock outstanding | shares	156,887,997	156,326,416
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]
Number of Apartment Communities | Property	130
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	37,772
Percentage of proportionate property net operating income generated by segment	90.00%
Conventional Real Estate Operations [Member] | Partially Owned Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of Apartment Communities | Property	138
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	39,316
Conventional Real Estate Operations [Member] | Wholly And Partially Owned Consolidated Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of Apartment Communities | Property	134
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	39,174
Affordable Real Estate Operations [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of Apartment Communities | Property	46
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	7,610
Percentage of proportionate property net operating income generated by segment	10.00%
Affordable Real Estate Operations [Member] | Partially Owned Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of Apartment Communities | Property	55
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	8,389
Affordable Real Estate Operations [Member] | Wholly And Partially Owned Consolidated Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of Apartment Communities | Property	48
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	7,702
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Common partnership units and equivalents outstanding | shares	164,525,865