Earnings per Share and per Unit - Reconciliations of Numerator and Denominator in Calculations of Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share and per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to AIR		$ 35,970		$ 38,481
Income from discontinued operations attributable to AIR		3,242		7,410
Net income (loss) attributable to AIR common stockholders	$ (18,030)	$ 39,212	$ 65,166	$ 45,891
Income from continuing operations attributable to AIR, Shares		119,959		119,953
Income from discontinued operations attributable to AIR, Shares		119,959		119,953
Net income attributable to AIR common stockholders, Shares	154,608	119,959	151,609	119,953
Income from continuing operations attributable to AIR, Per share amount	$ (0.12)	$ 0.30	$ 0.43	$ 0.32
Income from discontinued operations attributable to AIR, Per share amount	0	0.03	0	0.06
Net income attributable to AIR common stockholders, Per share amount	$ (0.12)	$ 0.33	$ 0.43	$ 0.38
Diluted Earnings (loss) per Share:
Effect of dilutive securities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net income attributable to AIR common stockholders	$ (18,030)	$ 39,212	$ 65,166	$ 45,891
Effect of dilutive securities, Shares	0	15	474	115
Net income attributable to AIR common stockholders, Shares	154,608	119,974	152,083	120,068
Effect of dilutive securities, Per share amount	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net income attributable to AIR common stockholders, Per share amount	$ (0.12)	$ 0.33	$ 0.43	$ 0.38
Non-dilutive share equivalents outstanding	8,116	8,929	8,090	8,260
AIMCO Properties, LP [Member]
Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to AIR		$ 38,077		$ 40,956
Income from discontinued operations attributable to AIR		3,242		7,410
Net income (loss) attributable to AIR common stockholders	$ (18,975)	$ 41,319	$ 68,657	$ 48,366
Income from continuing operations attributable to AIR, Shares		126,399		126,460
Income from discontinued operations attributable to AIR, Shares		126,399		126,460
Net income attributable to AIR common stockholders, Shares	162,698	126,399	159,701	126,460
Income from continuing operations attributable to AIR, Per share amount		$ 0.30		$ 0.32
Income from discontinued operations attributable to AIR, Per share amount		0.03		0.06
Net income attributable to AIR common stockholders, Per share amount	$ (0.12)	$ 0.33	$ 0.43	$ 0.38
Diluted Earnings (loss) per Share:
Effect of dilutive securities		$ 0		$ 0
Net income attributable to AIR common stockholders	$ (18,975)	$ 41,319	$ 68,657	$ 48,366
Effect of dilutive securities, Shares	0	15	474	176
Net income attributable to AIR common stockholders, Shares	162,698	126,414	160,175	126,636
Effect of dilutive securities, Per share amount		$ 0		$ 0
Net income attributable to AIR common stockholders, Per share amount	$ (0.12)	$ 0.33	$ 0.43	$ 0.38
Non-dilutive share equivalents outstanding	1,885	2,081	1,594	1,214