Escrow Deposits, Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Escrow deposits, prepaid expenses and other		$ 45,532	$ 44,654
Investments in joint ventures		56,378	56,789
Commercial real estate, vehicles and FF&E, net		44,030	44,591
Total		145,940	146,034
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Total		145,641	145,807
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | Joint Venture, Single-Family Rental Homes, Southeast
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Aggregate cost	$ 156,300
Joint venture, initial term	5 years
Ownership percentage	20.00%
Investment in joint venture balance		$ 17,900	$ 18,000