Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 01, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Entity Registrant Name	NEW ENGLAND REALTY ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Entity Central Index Key	0000746514
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 126,577,073
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Class A
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		99,528
Class B
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		23,638