Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
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, 2019, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019. The balance sheets of Aimco and the Aimco Operating Partnership at December 31, 2018, 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, 2018. 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 (see Note 9). 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 6), 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.
Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in the Current Year and Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in the Current Year Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted the lease accounting standard issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB. We elected to adopt the new standard using practical expedients that: do not require a look back to expired or existing contracts for embedded leases; allow us to retain the classification of existing leases; and allow us to retain the previous accounting for the initial direct costs of existing leases. Under the new standard, a contract is or contains a lease when it provides the right to control the use of an asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Lessor accounting remains largely unchanged. In our position as a lessor, we have elected the practical expedient that allows us to combine revenue attributable to nonlease components with associated lease components where the timing and pattern of transfer of the components are the same. As a result, we will combine rent payments with payments for other services we provide to our residents, including residents’ reimbursement of utility expenses. We have adopted the standard using the optional transition method that allows for prior reporting periods to remain as originally presented. Please refer to Note 4. In 2018, the Securities Exchange Commission, or SEC, amended its rules to eliminate, modify, or integrate into other SEC requirements certain disclosure rules. The amendments are intended to simplify compliance without significantly changing the total mix of information provided to investors. The amendments created a requirement to report changes in equity and dividends per share in interim periods on a comparative basis for both quarter-to-date and year-to-date periods presented. We have presented comparative interim statements of stockholders’ and partners’ equity in our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In June 2016, the FASB issued a new standard for accounting for financial instruments and credit losses thereon, which changes the method and timing of the recognition of credit losses on financial assets. The standard will require us to estimate and record credit losses over the life of a receivable at its inception. We have limited loans receivable and we invest in debt securities, which are subject to the new standard. Receivables related to operating leases are excluded from the new standard as they are subject to the lease accounting standard. This standard is required to be applied using a modified-retrospective approach and requires a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings be recorded as of the date of adoption. The new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2020. We are currently in the process of completing our analysis of the impact of the standard and do not expect it to have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.