Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
REVENUES
Rental income	$ 691,263	$ 574,084	$ 547,820
Non-property income:
Other income	17,422	12,502	14,274
Total revenues	708,685	586,586	562,094
Rental expenses:
Real estate taxes and insurance	84,007	70,762	67,533
Personnel	56,617	51,696	47,121
Utilities	37,405	31,564	29,153
Repair and maintenance	37,155	32,386	29,095
Administrative and marketing	15,411	14,643	12,920
Property management	19,009	15,788	15,066
Other operating expenses	5,990	5,773	6,473
Real estate depreciation and amortization	356,011	275,615	252,952
Interest
Expense incurred	151,144	140,869	135,317
Amortization of convertible debt discount	1,077	3,530	4,283
Other debt charges/(gains)	4,602	1,204	(3,511)
General and administrative	45,915	45,243	39,035
Severance costs and other restructuring charges	1,342	6,803
Other depreciation and amortization	3,931	4,843	5,161
Total expenses	819,616	700,719	640,598
Loss from operations	(110,931)	(114,133)	(78,504)
Loss from unconsolidated entities	(6,352)	(4,204)	(18,665)
Tax benefit/(expense) for taxable REIT subsidiary	5,647	2,533	(311)
Loss from continuing operations	(111,636)	(115,804)	(97,480)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	132,221	9,216	5,857
Consolidated net income/(loss)	20,585	(106,588)	(91,623)
Net (income)/loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in OP	(395)	3,835	4,282
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(167)	(146)	(191)
Net income/(loss) attributable to UDR, Inc.	20,023	(102,899)	(87,532)
(Premium)/discount on preferred stock repurchases, net	(175)	25	2,586
Net income/(loss) attributable to common stockholders	10,537	(112,362)	(95,858)
Earnings per weighted average common share - basic and diluted:
Loss from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$ (0.60)	$ (0.73)	$ (0.68)
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0.66	$ 0.06	$ 0.04
Net income/(loss) attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.05	$ (0.68)	$ (0.64)
Common distributions declared per share	$ 0.80	$ 0.73	$ 0.85
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding- basic and diluted	201,294	165,857	149,090
Series E Preferred Stock [Member]
Interest
Distributions to preferred stockholders	(3,724)	(3,726)	(3,724)
Series G Preferred Stock [Member]
Interest
Distributions to preferred stockholders	$ (5,587)	$ (5,762)	$ (7,188)