Earnings and Dividends per Share and Unit (Details Textual) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares
Schedule of Earnings Per Share and Dividends Per Share [Line Items]
Number of shares potentially redeemable for (in shares) | shares	2.7
Dividends paid (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.41	$ 2.02
Distributions paid (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.41	$ 2.02
Special dividend	$ 60,825	$ 67,476
Equity reverse stock split	1.03119
AIMCO Properties, LP [Member]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share and Dividends Per Share [Line Items]
Special distribution	$ 63,980	70,720
AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] | General Partner and Special Limited Partner [Member]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share and Dividends Per Share [Line Items]
Special distribution	$ 60,825	$ 67,476
Special Dividend and Special Distribution [Member]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share and Dividends Per Share [Line Items]
Dividends paid (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 2.02
Special Dividend Paid [Member]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share and Dividends Per Share [Line Items]
Special dividend	$ 67,100
Common shares issued in special dividend (in shares) | shares	4.5
Special dividend, cash paid in lieu of fractional shares	$ 400
Special Cash Distribution [Member] | AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] | General Partner and Special Limited Partner [Member]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share and Dividends Per Share [Line Items]
Special distribution	$ 72,700
Units issued in special dividend (in shares) | shares	4.8
Special distribution, cash paid in lieu of fractional shares	$ 400