Organization (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 Units Property shares
Organization [Line Items]
Common partnership units and equivalents outstanding | shares	157,022,248
Percentage of the Aimco Operating Partnership's common partnership units and equivalents owned by Aimco	95.40%
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Common partnership units and equivalents outstanding | shares	164,650,596
Asset Management [Member] | Partially Owned Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of apartment communities | Property	47
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	7,098
Asset Management [Member] | Wholly And Partially Owned Consolidated Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of apartment communities | Property	40
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	6,411
Aimco Real Estate [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of apartment communities | Property	137
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	39,031
Aimco Real Estate [Member] | Partially Owned Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of apartment communities | Property	141
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	39,173
Aimco Real Estate [Member] | Wholly And Partially Owned Consolidated Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of apartment communities | Property	137
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	39,031