Consolidated Statement of Changes in Capital Statement $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Partners' Capital [Abstract]
Contributions	$ 47
Distributions	(266)
Buyout of Noncontrolling Interest - partially owned properties	(2,105)
Change in fair value of interest rate cap agreements	(1,696)
Net income	29,352
Operating Partnership
Partners' Capital [Abstract]
Beginning balance	1,782,318
Net proceeds from sale of common shares	804,453
Restricted share award grants, net	1,920
Purchase of OP Units	(3,757)
Conversion of OP Units	0
OP Units - distributions	(115,799)
Preferred distributions	(505)
Issuance of OP Units in connection with acquisitions	44,259
Contributions	47
Distributions	(266)
Buyout of Noncontrolling Interest - partially owned properties	(2,105)
Change in fair value of interest rate cap agreements	(1,696)
Net income	29,352
Adjustments for Limited Partners ownership in Operating Partnership	0
Ending balance	2,538,221
Operating Partnership \| AOCI Attributable to Parent
Partners' Capital [Abstract]
Beginning balance	13,708
Change in fair value of interest rate cap agreements	(1,696)
Ending balance	12,012
Operating Partnership \| General Partner
Partners' Capital [Abstract]
Beginning balance	1,724,743
Net proceeds from sale of common shares	804,453
Conversion of OP Units	783
OP Units - distributions	(112,164)
Preferred distributions	(505)
Issuance of OP Units in connection with acquisitions	0
Buyout of Noncontrolling Interest - partially owned properties	(2,800)
Net income	28,384
Adjustments for Limited Partners ownership in Operating Partnership	7,080
Ending balance	2,451,894
Operating Partnership \| Limited Partner
Partners' Capital [Abstract]
Beginning balance	43,142
Purchase of OP Units	(3,757)
Conversion of OP Units	(783)
OP Units - distributions	(3,635)
Issuance of OP Units in connection with acquisitions	44,259
Buyout of Noncontrolling Interest - partially owned properties	719
Net income	823
Adjustments for Limited Partners ownership in Operating Partnership	(7,080)
Ending balance	73,688
Operating Partnership \| Partners' Capital
Partners' Capital [Abstract]
Beginning balance	1,781,593
Net proceeds from sale of common shares	804,453
Purchase of OP Units	(3,757)
OP Units - distributions	(115,799)
Preferred distributions	(505)
Issuance of OP Units in connection with acquisitions	44,259
Buyout of Noncontrolling Interest - partially owned properties	(2,081)
Change in fair value of interest rate cap agreements	(1,696)
Net income	29,207
Ending balance	2,537,594
Partially Owned Properties Noncontrolling Interest
Partners' Capital [Abstract]
Contributions	47
Distributions	(266)
Buyout of Noncontrolling Interest - partially owned properties	(24)
Net income	145
Partially Owned Properties Noncontrolling Interest \| Operating Partnership
Partners' Capital [Abstract]
Beginning balance	725
Issuance of OP Units in connection with acquisitions	0
Contributions	47
Distributions	(266)
Buyout of Noncontrolling Interest - partially owned properties	(24)
Net income	145
Ending balance	$ 627

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Partners' Capital Account, Preferred Distributions

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Decrease in noncontrolling interest balance from payment of dividends or other distributions by the non-wholly owned subsidiary or partially owned entity, included in the consolidation of the parent entity, to the noncontrolling interest holders.

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Amount after income tax of income (loss) including the portion attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling interest. Excludes the portion attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest recognized as temporary equity.

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Amount of increase in noncontrolling interest from subsidiary issuance of equity interests to noncontrolling interest holders.

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Amount of tax expense (benefit), before reclassification adjustments, related to increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

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Change in the different classes of partners' capital accounts during the year due to acquisitions. Partners include general, limited and preferred partners.

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Total distributions to each class of partners (i.e., general, limited and preferred partners).

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Total change in each class of partners' capital accounts during the year due to exchanges and conversions. Partners include general, limited and preferred partners.

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Total change in each class of partners' capital accounts during the year due to the sale of units. All partners include general, limited and preferred partners.

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Value of units that were previously issued and have been repurchased during the year.

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Total change in each class of partners' capital accounts during the year due to unit-based compensation. All partners include general, limited and preferred partners.

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Amount of partners' capital (deficit), including portions attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests. Excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in partners' capital classified as other.

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