Condensed Consolidated Statements of Partners' Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member]	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] Preferred Units [Member]	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] General Partner and Special Limited Partner [Member]	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] Limited Partners [Member]	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] Partners Capital Attributable To The Partnership [Member]	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] Noncontrolling Interests In Consolidated Real Estate Partnerships
Balances at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 1,763,641	$ 125,000	$ 1,574,419	$ 67,189	$ 1,766,608	$ (2,967)
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Repurchases of common partnership units		(20,682)		(20,682)		(20,682)
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units		(2,557)			(2,557)	(2,557)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost		3,238		2,442	796	3,238
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities				(2,168)	2,168
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	$ 61	61		57	4	61
Net income	289,361	289,361		274,133	15,137	289,270	91
Distributions paid to common unitholders		(70,720)		(67,476)	(3,244)	(70,720)
Distributions paid to preferred unitholders		(2,148)		(2,148)		(2,148)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,244)
Other, net		78		59		59	19
Balances at Mar. 31, 2019		1,960,272	$ 125,000	1,758,636	79,493	1,963,129	(2,857)
Balances at Dec. 31, 2019		1,860,795		1,780,649	83,442	1,864,091	(3,296)
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Repurchases of common partnership units		(10,004)		(10,004)		(10,004)
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units		(969)			(969)	(969)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost		2,980		1,929	1,051	2,980
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities				(769)	769
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	(60)	(60)		(56)	(4)	(60)
Net income	7,208	7,208		6,722	368	7,090	118
Distributions paid to common unitholders		(63,980)		(60,825)	(3,155)	(63,980)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,228)	(73)					(73)
Other, net		(72)		86		86	(158)
Balances at Mar. 31, 2020		1,795,548		1,717,455	$ 81,502	1,798,957	$ (3,409)
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle	$ (277)	$ (277)		$ (277)		$ (277)