ACQUISITION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 15, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of residences acquired								12
Number of residences units	9,325				9,325			696
Purchase price of residences acquired								$ 97,000,000
Litigation settlement fee					3,000,000
ALC credit facility amount	125,000,000				125,000,000
Residence lease expense	2,834,000		1,600,000	4,430,000	10,683,000	13,225,000	6,400,000
Summary of initial estimated fair values of the assets acquired at the acquisition date [Abstract]
Total	62,870,000				62,870,000
Unamortized leasehold improvements reclassified					3,100,000
Lease termination and settlement fees	(25,000)			0	37,130,000	0
Impairment of operating lease intangible	0	8,700,000		0	8,650,000	0
Transactions costs	0			0	1,046,000	0
Land [Member]
Summary of initial estimated fair values of the assets acquired at the acquisition date [Abstract]
Total	5,770,000				5,770,000
Buildings and improvements [Member]
Summary of initial estimated fair values of the assets acquired at the acquisition date [Abstract]
Total	$ 57,100,000				$ 57,100,000
Alabama [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of residences acquired								1
South Carolina [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of residences acquired								4
Florida [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of residences acquired								1
Georgia [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of residences acquired								5
Pennsylvania [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of residences acquired								1