Condensed Consolidated Statements of Partners' Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member]	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] Preferred Units [Member]	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] General Partner and Special Limited Partner [Member]	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] General Partner and Special Limited Partner [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] Limited Partners [Member]	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] Partners Capital Attributable To The Partnership [Member]	AIMCO Properties, LP [Member] Partners Capital Attributable To The Partnership [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [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)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in consolidated real estate partnerships		(917)								(917)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	$ 77	77			72		5	77
Net income	357,424	357,424			338,592		18,671	357,263		161
Distributions paid to common unitholders		(125,514)			(125,514)			(125,514)
Common partnership units issued to common unitholders in special distribution		(516)			(516)			(516)
Distributions paid to preferred unitholders		(3,247)			(3,247)			(3,247)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(6,603)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships		(6,603)					(6,547)	(6,547)		(56)
Other, net		77			58			58		19
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Repurchases of common partnership units		(20,682)			(20,682)			(20,682)
Redemption of preferred units		(125,000)		(125,000)				(125,000)
Issuance of Aimco Operating Partnership units	3,034	3,034					3,034	3,034
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	4,132	(4,132)			3,423		(7,555)	(4,132)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost		5,224			3,632		1,592	5,224
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities					(7,019)		5,977	(1,042)		1,042
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	77	77			72		5	77
Net income	357,424	357,424			338,592		18,671	357,263		161
Distributions paid to common unitholders		(125,514)			(125,514)			(125,514)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(6,603)
Other, net		77			58			58		19
Balances at Jun. 30, 2019		1,842,866			1,763,218		82,366	1,845,584		(2,718)
Balances at Mar. 31, 2019		1,960,272		125,000	1,758,636		79,493	1,963,129		(2,857)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in consolidated real estate partnerships		(917)								(917)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	16	16			15		1	16
Net income	68,063	68,063			64,459		3,534	67,993		70
Distributions paid to common unitholders		(61,342)			(58,039)		(3,303)	(61,342)
Common partnership units issued to common unitholders in special distribution		(516)			(516)			(516)
Distributions paid to preferred unitholders		(1,098)			(1,098)			(1,098)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,359)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships		(56)								(56)
Other, net		(1)			(1)			(1)
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units		(125,000)		$ (125,000)				(125,000)
Issuance of Aimco Operating Partnership units	3,034	3,034					3,034	3,034
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	1,575	(1,575)			3,423		(4,998)	(1,575)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost		1,986			1,190		796	1,986
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities					(4,851)		3,809	(1,042)		1,042
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	16	16			15		1	16
Net income	68,063	68,063			64,459		3,534	67,993		70
Distributions paid to common unitholders		(61,342)			(58,039)		(3,303)	(61,342)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,359)
Other, net		(1)			(1)			(1)
Balances at Jun. 30, 2019		1,842,866			1,763,218		82,366	1,845,584		(2,718)
Balances at Dec. 31, 2019		1,860,795	$ (277)		1,780,649	$ (277)	83,442	1,864,091	$ (277)	(3,296)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	(415)	(415)			(388)		(27)	(415)
Net income	48,677	48,677			45,977		2,475	48,452		225
Distributions paid to common unitholders		(128,357)			(121,859)		(6,498)	(128,357)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(6,606)	(108)								(108)
Other, net		69			116			116		(47)
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Repurchases of common partnership units		(10,004)			(10,004)			(10,004)
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	1,255	(1,255)			5,137		(6,392)	(1,255)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost		5,111			3,009		2,102	5,111
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities					(4,348)		4,312	(36)		36
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	(415)	(415)			(388)		(27)	(415)
Net income	48,677	48,677			45,977		2,475	48,452		225
Distributions paid to common unitholders		(128,357)			(121,859)		(6,498)	(128,357)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(6,606)	(108)								(108)
Other, net		69			116			116		(47)
Balances at Jun. 30, 2020		1,774,236			1,698,012		79,414	1,777,426		(3,190)
Balances at Mar. 31, 2020		1,795,548			1,717,455		81,502	1,798,957		(3,409)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	(355)	(355)			(332)		(23)	(355)
Net income	41,469	41,469			39,255		2,107	41,362		107
Distributions paid to common unitholders		(64,377)			(61,034)		(3,343)	(64,377)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,378)	(35)								(35)
Other, net		141			30			30		111
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of Aimco Operating Partnership units	286	(286)			5,137		(5,423)	(286)
Amortization of share-based compensation cost		2,131			1,080		1,051	2,131
Effect of changes in ownership of consolidated entities					(3,579)		3,543	(36)		36
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income	(355)	(355)			(332)		(23)	(355)
Net income	41,469	41,469			39,255		2,107	41,362		107
Distributions paid to common unitholders		(64,377)			(61,034)		(3,343)	(64,377)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	$ (3,378)	(35)								(35)
Other, net		141			30			30		111
Balances at Jun. 30, 2020		$ 1,774,236			$ 1,698,012		$ 79,414	$ 1,777,426		$ (3,190)