Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted in accordance with such rules and regulations, although management believes the disclosures are adequate to prevent the information presented from being misleading. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. The balance sheets of Aimco and the Aimco Operating Partnership at December 31, 2016, have been derived from their respective audited financial statements at that date, but do not include all of the information and disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the financial statements and notes thereto included in Aimco’s and the Aimco Operating Partnership’s combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Except where indicated, the footnotes refer to both Aimco and the Aimco Operating Partnership. Effective in 2017, we modified our condensed consolidated balance sheets to present the assets and liabilities of consolidated partnerships served by our Asset Management business separately from those amounts relating to our Real Estate portfolio. We have similarly modified our condensed consolidated statements of operations to present separately the rental and other property revenues and property operating expenses of consolidated partnerships served by our Asset Management business. We have reclassified these items in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2016, and in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, to conform to the current presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported total assets, total liabilities or net income amounts.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation Aimco’s accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aimco, the Aimco Operating Partnership, and their consolidated subsidiaries. The Aimco Operating Partnership’s condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Aimco Operating Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries, including partnerships served by our Asset Management business (see note Note 8). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Interests in the Aimco Operating Partnership that are held by limited partners other than Aimco are reflected in Aimco’s accompanying balance sheets as noncontrolling interests in the Aimco Operating Partnership. Interests in partnerships consolidated by the Aimco Operating Partnership that are held by third parties are reflected in our accompanying balance sheets as noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships.
Temporary Equity and Partners' Capital	The Preferred OP Units may be redeemed at the holders’ option (as further discussed in Note 5), and therefore are presented within temporary equity in Aimco’s condensed consolidated balance sheets and within temporary capital in the Aimco Operating Partnership’s condensed consolidated balance sheets (in thousands).
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts included in the financial statements and accompanying notes thereto. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in the Current Year Effective April 1, 2017, we elected to adopt early the new accounting standard that revised the GAAP definition of a business. Under the new standard we expect that apartment communities will no longer be considered businesses in most acquisitions and dispositions. Under the new standard, transaction costs incurred related to the acquisition of real estate operations will be capitalized as a cost of the acquisition. Additionally, we will no longer allocate goodwill to apartment communities for purposes of calculating gains or losses upon sale. We have applied the new standard prospectively to transactions occurring after April 1, 2017. This standard did not have a significant effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Effective January 1, 2017, we adopted a new standard issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, that simplifies the accounting for the income tax consequences of intercompany transfers of assets. Previously, the recognition within the statement of operations of income tax expense or benefit resulting from an intercompany transfer of assets did not occur until the assets affect GAAP income or loss, for example, through depreciation, impairment or upon the sale of the asset to a third-party. Under the new standard, an entity recognizes the income tax expense or benefit from an intercompany transfer of assets when the transfer occurs. We have applied this change on a modified retrospective basis and recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings of $62.5 million as of January 1, 2017, representing accumulated unrecognized tax expense from intercompany transfers between the Aimco Operating Partnership and TRS entities. Such amounts were included in other assets within our consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2016. Also effective January 1, 2017, we adopted guidance that simplifies the accounting for share-based compensation. Under prior practice, tax benefits in excess of those associated with compensation cost recognized in accordance with GAAP, or windfalls, were recorded in equity and tax deficiencies were recorded in equity until previous windfalls had been recouped and then recognized in earnings. Under the new guidance, all of the tax effects related to share-based compensation are recognized through earnings. This guidance is applied to all windfalls and tax deficiencies resulting from settlements occurring after January 1, 2017. The new guidance also requires windfalls to be recorded in the period the related transaction triggering tax consequences, such as an exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted shares, occurs. This change in timing of recognition has been applied on a modified retrospective basis. We did not record a cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings on the date of adoption as there were no accumulated windfalls recorded in equity. Compared to prior periods, we may experience incremental volatility in income tax benefit or expense resulting from the recognition in earnings of windfall benefits or deficiencies upon the exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted shares.