Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) partnership	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) partnership
Capital Additions [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Purchase contract, commitment	$ 211.0
Capital Additions [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Construction contract, period (in months)	12 months
Capital Additions [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Construction contract, period (in months)	36 months
DownREIT [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of real estate joint ventures \| partnership	2	2
Aggregate redemption value	$ 43.0	$ 47.0

The fair value as of the reporting date of noncontrolling interests which are redeemable by the (parent) entity (1) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (2) at the option of the holder of the noncontrolling interest, or (3) upon occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the (parent) entity. The noncontrolling interest holder's ownership (or holders' ownership) may be in the form of common shares (regardless of class), limited partnership units (regardless of class), non-preferential membership interests, or any other form of common equity regardless of investee entity legal form.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph (16)(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=SL6540498-122764

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=SL6540498-122764

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph (12)(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=SL6540498-122764

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=SL6540498-122764

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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