Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues
Revenues from rental properties		$ 1,142,334	$ 1,149,603	$ 1,183,785
Revenue		16,550	15,159	17,049
Total revenues		1,158,884	1,164,762	1,200,834
Operating expenses
Rent		(11,311)	(10,929)	(11,145)
Real estate taxes		(153,659)	(153,336)	(157,196)
Operating and maintenance		(171,981)	(164,294)	(169,552)
General and administrative		(96,942)	(87,797)	(91,690)
Provision for doubtful accounts		0	(6,253)	(5,630)
Impairment charges		48,743	79,207	67,331
Depreciation and amortization		(277,879)	(310,380)	(360,811)
Total operating expenses		(760,515)	(812,196)	(863,355)
Gain on sale of properties/change in control of interests		79,218	229,840	93,538
Operating income		477,587	582,406	431,017
Other income/(expense)
Other income, net		11,814	13,041	2,559
Interest expense		(177,395)	(183,339)	(191,956)
Early extinguishment of debt charges		0	(12,762)	(1,753)
Income before income taxes, net, equity in income of joint ventures, net, gain on change in control of joint venture interests and equity in income from other real estate investments, net		312,006	399,346	239,867
Benefit/(provision) for income taxes, net		3,317	(1,600)	880
Gain on change in control of joint venture interests		0	0	71,160
Net income		413,561	498,463	439,671
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(2,956)	(668)	(13,596)
Net income attributable to the Company		410,605	497,795	426,075
Preferred stock redemption charges		(18,528)	0	(7,014)
Preferred dividends		(52,089)	(58,191)	(46,600)
Net income available to the Company's common shareholders		$ 339,988	$ 439,604	$ 372,461
Per common share:
-Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.80	$ 1.02	$ 0.87
-Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.80	$ 1.02	$ 0.87
Weighted average shares:
-Basic (in shares)		420,370	420,641	423,614
-Diluted (in shares)	[1]	421,799	421,379	424,019
Joint Ventures [Member]
Other income/(expense)
Equity in income		$ 72,162	$ 71,617	$ 60,763
Other Real Estate Investments [Member]
Other income/(expense)
Equity in income		$ 26,076	$ 29,100	$ 67,001

[1] The effect of the assumed conversion of certain convertible units had an anti-dilutive effect upon the calculation of Income from continuing operations per share. Accordingly, the impact of such conversions has not been included in the determination of diluted earnings per share calculations. Additionally, there were 0.5 million, 1.3 million and 3.1 million stock options that were not dilutive as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.