Business Segments (Details Textual) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) Segment Units Property	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 Units Property
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | Segment	1
Operating Segments [Member] | Aimco Real Estate [Member]
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Capital additions related to segments | $	$ 76.7	$ 70.1
Partially Owned Properties [Member] | Aimco Real Estate [Member]
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned and managed apartment communities in segments | Property	134
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	37,228
Partially Owned Properties [Member] | Asset Management [Member]
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned and managed apartment communities in segments | Property	46
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	6,898
Wholly And Partially Owned Consolidated Properties [Member] | Aimco Real Estate [Member]
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned and managed apartment communities in segments | Property	130
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	37,086
Wholly And Partially Owned Consolidated Properties [Member] | Asset Management [Member]
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned and managed apartment communities in segments | Property	39
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	6,211
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	13		14
Number of apartment homes in apartment communities | Units	4,196		4,321