Business Segments (Details Textual) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) Segment Units Property	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 Units Property
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | Segment	1
Aimco Real Estate [Member]
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned and managed apartment communities in segments | Property	137
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	39,031
Operating Segments [Member] | Aimco Real Estate [Member]
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Capital additions related to segments | $	$ 71.5	$ 69.5
Partially Owned Properties [Member] | Aimco Real Estate [Member]
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned and managed apartment communities in segments | Property	141
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	39,173
Partially Owned Properties [Member] | Asset Management [Member]
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned and managed apartment communities in segments | Property	47
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	7,098
Unconsolidated Properties [Member] | Aimco Real Estate [Member]
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned and managed apartment communities in segments | Property	4
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	142
Aimco Real Estate [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned and managed apartment communities in segments | Property	19		19
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	6,110		6,110