Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net (loss) income	$ (103,344)	$ 508,027	$ 716,603
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	320,943	317,283	329,394
Provision for real estate impairment loss	47,281	0	0
Gain on dispositions of real estate and the Asset Management business	(119,215)	(503,168)	(677,463)
Income tax expense (benefit)	95,437	305	(13,346)
Share-based compensation expense	8,295	8,146	8,550
Amortization of debt issuance costs and other	7,954	7,110	8,215
Other, net	(1,102)	0	1,046
Changes in operating assets and operating liabilities:
Accounts receivable and other assets	(57,881)	(26,021)	(27,830)
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other	12,672	2,798	1,681
Total adjustments	379,993	(133,556)	(320,215)
Net cash provided by operating activities	276,649	374,471	396,388
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of real estate and deposits related to purchases of real estate	(4,353)	(42,216)	(242,297)
Capital expenditures	(346,914)	(354,690)	(302,803)
Proceeds from dispositions of real estate and the Asset Management Business	159,422	628,771	708,848
Payment for mezzanine investment and related transaction costs	0	(277,627)	0
Purchases of corporate assets	(17,328)	(17,584)	(7,718)
Other investing activities	(29,326)	(7,201)	3,502
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(349,999)	(205,413)	121,846
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from non-recourse property debt of continuing operations	643,756	712,143	1,134,747
Principal repayments on non-recourse property debt of continuing operations	(772,935)	(462,152)	(858,078)
Proceeds from (repayments of) term loan	350,000	0	(250,000)
Net (repayments of) borrowings on revolving credit facility	(9,400)	114,640	93,200
Payment of debt issuance costs	(6,607)	(4,861)	(11,961)
Payment of debt extinguishment costs	(14,831)	(4,491)	(14,241)
Cash distributed to Aimco in Separation	(257,296)	0	0
Repurchases of Common Stock	(10,004)	(20,682)	(373,592)
Repurchases of Preferred Stock	0	(125,000)	0
Payment of dividends to holders of Preferred Stock	0	(3,246)	(8,594)
Payment of dividends to holders of Common Stock	(304,992)	(241,288)	(237,504)
Payment of distributions to noncontrolling interests	(25,474)	(21,620)	(29,196)
Redemptions of noncontrolling interests in the AIR Operating Partnership	(20,259)	(10,694)	(9,885)
Contribution from noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	456,675	4,911	0
Purchases of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	0	(3,780)	(3,579)
Other financing activities	(10,477)	(2,437)	5,233
Net cash used in financing activities	(26,037)	(63,952)	(588,179)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH	(99,387)	105,106	(69,945)
NET DECREASE (INCREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	6,326	(6,356)	281
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(93,061)	98,750	(69,664)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	166,541	67,791	137,455
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF PERIOD	73,480	166,541	67,791
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	145,000	160,961	199,996
Cash paid for income taxes	12,168	12,238	11,522
Non-recourse property debt assumed in connection with the acquisition of real estate	0	97,565	208,885
Deferred tax liability assumed in connection with the acquisition of real estate	0	148,809	0
Issuance of common OP Units in connection with acquisition of real estate	0	3,034	50,151
Non-recourse property debt assumed by buyer in connection with the disposition of the Asset Management business	0	0	227,708
Assets, net of liabilities distributed to Aimco	559,753	0	0
Mezzanine investment liability	307,362	0	0
Other liabilities incurred in the Separation, net	5,506	0	0
Recognition of right of use lease assets	9,667	54,626	0
Recognition of lease liabilities	9,667	59,251	0
Accrued capital expenditures (at end of period)	31,323	54,358	40,185
Accrued dividends on TSR restricted stock and LTIP awards (at end of period) (Note 10)	1,327	1,420	1,266
AIMCO Properties, LP [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net (loss) income	(103,344)	508,027	716,603
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	320,943	317,283	329,394
Provision for real estate impairment loss	47,281	0	0
Gain on dispositions of real estate and the Asset Management business	(119,215)	(503,168)	(677,463)
Income tax expense (benefit)	95,437	305	(13,346)
Share-based compensation expense	8,295	8,146	8,550
Amortization of debt issuance costs and other	7,954	7,110	8,215
Other, net	(1,102)	0	1,046
Changes in operating assets and operating liabilities:
Accounts receivable and other assets	(57,881)	(26,021)	(27,830)
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other	12,672	2,798	1,681
Total adjustments	379,993	(133,556)	(320,215)
Net cash provided by operating activities	276,649	374,471	396,388
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of real estate and deposits related to purchases of real estate	(4,353)	(42,216)	(242,297)
Capital expenditures	(346,914)	(354,690)	(302,803)
Proceeds from dispositions of real estate and the Asset Management Business	159,422	628,771	708,848
Payment for mezzanine investment and related transaction costs	0	(277,627)	0
Purchases of corporate assets	(17,328)	(17,584)	(7,718)
Other investing activities	(29,326)	(7,201)	3,502
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(349,999)	(205,413)	121,846
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from non-recourse property debt of continuing operations	643,756	712,143	1,134,747
Principal repayments on non-recourse property debt of continuing operations	(772,935)	(462,152)	(858,078)
Proceeds from (repayments of) term loan	350,000	0	(250,000)
Net (repayments of) borrowings on revolving credit facility	(9,400)	114,640	93,200
Payment of debt issuance costs	(6,607)	(4,861)	(11,961)
Payment of debt extinguishment costs	(14,831)	(4,491)	(14,241)
Cash distributed to Aimco in Separation	(257,296)	0	0
Repurchases of Common Stock	(10,004)	(20,682)	(373,592)
Redemption of preferred units from Aimco	0	(125,000)	0
Payment of dividends to holders of Preferred Stock	(7,019)	(10,954)	(16,334)
Payment of distributions General Partner and Special Limited Parter	(304,992)	(241,288)	(237,504)
Payment of distributions to Limited Partners	(16,667)	(13,399)	(11,987)
Payment of distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,788)	(513)	(9,469)
Redemption of common and preferred units	(20,259)	(10,694)	(9,885)
Contribution from noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	456,675	4,911	0
Purchases of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate partnerships	0	(3,780)	(3,579)
Other financing activities	(10,477)	(2,437)	5,233
Net cash used in financing activities	(26,037)	(63,952)	(588,179)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH	(99,387)	105,106	(69,945)
NET DECREASE (INCREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	6,326	(6,356)	281
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(93,061)	98,750	(69,664)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	166,541	67,791	137,455
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF PERIOD	73,480	166,541	67,791
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	145,000	160,961	199,996
Cash paid for income taxes	12,168	12,238	11,522
Non-recourse property debt assumed in connection with the acquisition of real estate	0	97,565	208,885
Deferred tax liability assumed in connection with the acquisition of real estate	0	148,809	0
Issuance of common OP Units in connection with acquisition of real estate	0	3,034	50,151
Non-recourse property debt assumed by buyer in connection with the disposition of the Asset Management business	0	0	227,708
Assets, net of liabilities distributed to Aimco	559,753	0	0
Mezzanine investment liability	307,362	0	0
Other liabilities incurred in the Separation, net	5,506	0	0
Recognition of right of use lease assets	9,667	54,626	0
Recognition of lease liabilities	9,667	59,251	0
Accrued capital expenditures (at end of period)	31,323	54,358	40,185
Accrued dividends on TSR restricted stock and LTIP awards (at end of period) (Note 10)	1,327	1,420	1,266
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	72,729	62,887	48,392
Income tax expense (benefit)	(7,939)	(3,440)	319
Other, net	819	544	827
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of real estate and deposits related to purchases of real estate	(92,485)	(96,095)	0
Capital expenditures	(19,015)	(38,771)	(37,686)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from non-recourse property debt of continuing operations	0	62,480	93,280
Principal repayments on non-recourse property debt of continuing operations	(44,193)	(57,875)	(118,009)
Discontinued Operations [Member] | AIMCO Properties, LP [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	72,729	62,887	48,392
Income tax expense (benefit)	(7,939)	(3,440)	319
Other, net	819	544	827
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of real estate and deposits related to purchases of real estate	(92,485)	(96,095)	0
Capital expenditures	(19,015)	(38,771)	(37,686)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from non-recourse property debt of continuing operations	0	62,480	93,280
Principal repayments on non-recourse property debt of continuing operations	$ (44,193)	$ (57,875)	$ (118,009)