Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Rents from single-family properties	$ 120,680	$ 73,761
Fees from single-family properties	1,331amh_FeesFromRealEstate	1,358amh_FeesFromRealEstate
Tenant charge-backs	8,372us-gaap_TenantReimbursements	1,890us-gaap_TenantReimbursements
Other	1,365amh_OtherRevenue	269amh_OtherRevenue
Total revenues	131,748us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	77,278us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet
Expenses:
Leased single-family properties	53,930	29,266
Vacant single-family properties and other	5,972amh_VacantSingleFamilyOperatingExpenses	9,043amh_VacantSingleFamilyOperatingExpenses
General and administrative expense	6,131us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	5,074us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Interest expense	15,670us-gaap_InterestExpense	1,502us-gaap_InterestExpense
Non-cash share-based compensation expense	696us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	532us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Acquisition fees and costs expensed	5,908	452
Depreciation and amortization	53,664us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	35,131us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Total expenses	141,971us-gaap_OperatingExpenses	81,000us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
Remeasurement of Series E units	1,838	(2,756)
Remeasurement of Preferred shares	120	(457)
Loss from continuing operations	(8,265)	(6,935)
Net loss	(8,265)us-gaap_ProfitLoss	(6,935)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Noncontrolling interest	3,956	3,620
Dividends on preferred shares	5,569	3,121
Net loss attributable to common shareholders	$ (17,790)	$ (13,676)
Weighted-average shares outstanding-basic and diluted	211,481,727	185,504,294
Net loss per share - basic and diluted:
Net loss attributable to common shareholders per share - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted	$ (0.07)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted

Represents the fees received from real estate operations during the period.

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Other revenue not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

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Amount of expense incurred and directly related to generating revenue from properties that are currently vacant.

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This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share in instances when basic and diluted earnings per share are the same amount and reported as a single line item on the face of the financial statements. Basic earnings per share is the amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share includes the amount of net income or loss for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Net Increase or Decrease in the fair value of the embedded derivative or group of embedded derivatives included in earnings in the period.

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The aggregate total of expenses of managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

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Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the parent. Also defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items but after deduction of those portions of income or loss from continuing operations that are allocable to noncontrolling interests.

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Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Includes selling, general and administrative expense.

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The total amount of revenue recognized for the period from operating leases, including minimum lease revenue, contingent revenue, percentage revenue and sublease revenue.

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The amount of preferred stock dividends that is an adjustment to net income apportioned to common stockholders.

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

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In accordance with the provisions of their lease agreement, this element represents allowable charges due a landlord from its tenant. In retail store and office building leases, for example, tenant reimbursements may cover items such as taxes, utilities, and common area expenses.

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Amount of the unrealized gain (loss) in earnings for the period from the increase (decrease) in fair value on hybrid instruments measured at fair value.

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Average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS).

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