Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
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 months ended March 31, 2018, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018. The balance sheets of Aimco and the Aimco Operating Partnership at December 31, 2017, 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, 2017. Except where indicated, the footnotes refer to both Aimco and the Aimco Operating Partnership.
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 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 condensed consolidated 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 condensed consolidated 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 are therefore 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 January 1, 2018, we adopted a new standard issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, that affects accounting for revenue. Under this new standard, revenue is generally recognized when an entity has transferred control of goods or services to a customer for an amount reflecting the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled for such exchange. In evaluating the contracts we enter into in the ordinary course of business, substantially all of our revenue is generated by lease agreements, which will continue to be subject to existing GAAP until 2019, when we will adopt the new lease accounting standard. The new revenue standard also introduced new guidance for accounting for other income, including how we measure gains or losses on the sale of real estate. We adopted the new standard using the modified retrospective transition method effective January 1, 2018, with no effect on our results of operations or financial position. Effective January 1, 2018, we also adopted new standards issued by the FASB that affect the presentation and disclosure of the statements of cash flows. We are now required to present combined inflows and outflows of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in the consolidated statement of cash flows. Previously our consolidated statements of cash flows presented transfers between restricted and unrestricted cash accounts as operating, financing, and investing cash activities depending upon the required or intended purpose for the restricted funds. The new guidance also requires debt prepayment and other extinguishment related payments to be classified as financing activities. We previously classified such payments as operating activities.