CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Cumulative Dividends In Excess Of Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 10,997,099	$ 459,746	$ 11,431,987	$ (1,132,541)	$ (23,895)	$ 10,735,297	$ 261,802
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		459,746
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	(546,418)			(559,235)		(559,235)	12,817
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(6,575)				(6,575)	(6,575)
Issuance of common stock, net	178,884	$ 5,117	176,950			182,067	(3,183)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		5,117
Conversion of DownREIT units to common stock (in shares)		104
Repurchase of common stock	(8,738)	$ (198)	(8,540)			(8,738)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(198)
Exercise of stock options	27,587	$ 823	26,764			27,587
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		823
Amortization of deferred compensation	26,127		26,127			26,127
Common dividends	(1,046,638)			(1,046,638)		(1,046,638)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(19,147)		(263)			(263)	(18,884)
Issuances of noncontrolling interests	151,185						151,185
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(7,049)		(5,986)			(5,986)	(1,063)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	9,746,317	$ 465,488	11,647,039	(2,738,414)	(30,470)	9,343,643	402,674
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		465,488
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	639,926			627,747		627,747	12,179
Other comprehensive income (loss)	828				828	828
Issuance of common stock, net	64,177	$ 2,552	61,625			64,177
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		2,552
Conversion of DownREIT units to common stock	0	$ 145	5,948			6,093	(6,093)
Conversion of DownREIT units to common stock (in shares)		145
Repurchase of common stock	(8,685)	$ (237)	(8,448)			(8,685)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(237)
Exercise of stock options	3,473	$ 133	3,340			3,473
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		133
Amortization of deferred compensation	22,884		22,884			22,884
Common dividends	(979,542)			(979,542)		(979,542)
Distribution of QCP, Inc.	(3,532,763)		(3,532,763)			(3,532,763)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(26,347)		(36)			(36)	(26,311)
Issuances of noncontrolling interests	11,834						11,834
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interests	506		(36)	475		439	67
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(1,300)		(663)			(663)	(637)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	5,941,308	$ 468,081	8,198,890	(3,089,734)	(29,642)	5,547,595	393,713
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		468,081
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	422,634			414,169		414,169	8,465
Other comprehensive income (loss)	5,618				5,618	5,618
Issuance of common stock, net	27,353	$ 1,402	25,951			27,353
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		1,402
Conversion of DownREIT units to common stock	0	$ 78	2,411			2,489	$ (2,489)
Conversion of DownREIT units to common stock (in shares)		78					7,000
Repurchase of common stock	(4,785)	$ (157)	(4,628)			(4,785)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(157)
Exercise of stock options	768	$ 32	736			768
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		32
Amortization of deferred compensation	14,258		14,258			14,258
Common dividends	(694,955)			(694,955)		(694,955)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(26,129)						$ (26,129)
Issuances of noncontrolling interests	1,615						1,615
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interests	(58,062)					0	(58,062)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(34,685)		(11,505)			(11,505)	(23,180)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 5,594,938	$ 469,436	$ 8,226,113	$ (3,370,520)	$ (24,024)	$ 5,301,005	$ 293,933
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		469,436