Organization (Details Textual)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 Units Property shares
Organization [Line Items]
Common partnership units and equivalents outstanding | shares	157,022,720
Percentage of the Aimco Operating Partnership's common partnership units and equivalents owned by Aimco	95.50%
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Common partnership units and equivalents outstanding | shares	164,483,596
Asset Management [Member] | Partially Owned Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of apartment communities | Property	46
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	6,898
Asset Management [Member] | Wholly And Partially Owned Consolidated Properties [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of apartment communities | Property	39
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	6,211
Aimco Real Estate [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of apartment communities | Property	137
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	39,045
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	39,187
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	39,045