Escrow Deposits, Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets - Schedule of Expenses and Joint Ventures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2019
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Escrow deposits, prepaid expenses and other		$ 54,545	$ 38,642
Investments in joint ventures		67,935	56,789
Notes receivable		36,834	6,012
Commercial real estate, software, vehicles and FF&E, net		42,742	44,591
Total		202,056	146,034
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Property and land contributions to an unconsolidated joint venture		20,448	40,942	$ 0
Cash payments to acquire interest in joint venture		13,114	8,400	0
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Total		201,776	145,807
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Property and land contributions to an unconsolidated joint venture		20,448	40,942	0
Cash payments to acquire interest in joint venture		13,114	8,400	0
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | Joint Venture, Single-Family Rental Homes, Southeast
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Aggregate cost					$ 312,500
Joint venture, initial term	5 years
Ownership percentage	20.00%
Property and land contributions to an unconsolidated joint venture		20,400	40,900
Cash payments to acquire interest in joint venture		13,100	8,400
Distributions received from the joint venture		17,500	32,800
Equity method investments		33,800	18,000
Commercial real estate, software, vehicles and furniture, fixtures and equipment
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Depreciation		7,600	7,000	6,900
Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Property management expenses
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		$ 3,600	$ 1,900	$ 2,400