Earnings and Dividends per Share and Unit - Effect of Dilutive Securities and Securities not Dilutive (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Schedule of Earnings Per Share and Dividends Per Share [Line Items]
Basic and dilutive net income attributable to Aimco common stockholders	$ 6,679	$ 271,568
Basic weighted-average Common Stock outstanding	148,518	144,232
Dilutive share equivalents outstanding	268	213
Dilutive weighted-average Common Stock outstanding	148,786	144,445
Earnings per share – basic	$ 0.04	$ 1.88
Earnings per share – dilutive	$ 0.04	$ 1.88
Non-dilutive share equivalents outstanding	97	36
AIMCO Properties, LP [Member]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share and Dividends Per Share [Line Items]
Basic and dilutive net income attributable to Aimco common stockholders	$ 7,047	$ 286,639
Basic weighted-average Common Stock outstanding	156,660	152,303
Dilutive share equivalents outstanding	343	329
Dilutive weighted-average Common Stock outstanding	157,003	152,632
Earnings per share – basic	$ 0.04	$ 1.88
Earnings per share – dilutive	$ 0.04	$ 1.88
Non-dilutive share equivalents outstanding	1,847	229