Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues	$ 452,575	$ 423,199	$ 1,314,507	$ 1,254,323
Expenses:
Operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes and insurance	106,412	105,108	304,124	292,031
Real estate taxes and insurance	66,426	64,706	199,943	188,426
Depreciation and amortization	134,611	127,679	397,938	381,257
Total property operating expenses	307,449	297,493	902,005	861,714
Property management expenses	13,831	12,691	40,522	39,064
General and administrative expenses	12,670	11,360	38,763	35,181
Interest expense	39,234	41,010	117,773	126,610
Loss (gain) on sale of depreciable real estate assets	313	(20)	(134,515)	7
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(170)	(1,366)	(202)	(995)
Other non-operating (income) expense	(10,344)	(242)	(14,557)	13,647
Income before income tax expense	89,592	62,273	364,718	179,095
Income tax expense	(2,803)	(665)	(5,847)	(2,532)
Income from continuing operations before real estate joint venture activity	86,789	61,608	358,871	176,563
Income from real estate joint venture	258	428	915	1,153
Net income	87,047	62,036	359,786	177,716
Distributions to MAALP preferred unitholders	922	922	2,766	2,766
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	83,557	58,988	345,384	168,854
Limited Partner [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues	452,575	423,199	1,314,507	1,254,323
Expenses:
Operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes and insurance	106,412	105,108	304,124	292,031
Real estate taxes and insurance	66,426	64,706	199,943	188,426
Depreciation and amortization	134,611	127,679	397,938	381,257
Total property operating expenses	307,449	297,493	902,005	861,714
Property management expenses	13,831	12,691	40,522	39,064
General and administrative expenses	12,670	11,360	38,763	35,181
Interest expense	39,234	41,010	117,773	126,610
Loss (gain) on sale of depreciable real estate assets	313	(20)	(134,515)	7
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	170	1,366	202	995
Other non-operating (income) expense	10,344	242	14,557	(13,647)
Income before income tax expense	89,592	62,273	364,718	179,095
Income tax expense	2,803	665	5,847	2,532
Income from continuing operations before real estate joint venture activity	86,789	61,608	358,871	176,563
Income from real estate joint venture	258	428	915	1,153
Net income	87,047	62,036	359,786	177,716
Distributions to MAALP preferred unitholders	922	922	2,766	2,766
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 86,125	$ 61,114	$ 357,020	$ 174,950
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for MAALP common unitholders	$ 0.73	$ 0.52	$ 3.01	$ 1.48
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for MAALP common unitholders	$ 0.73	$ 0.52	$ 3.01	$ 1.48