Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues	$ 418,098	$ 401,178
Expenses:
Operating expense, excluding real estate taxes and insurance	91,368	89,793
Real estate taxes and insurance	61,804	59,584
Depreciation and amortization	126,388	122,789
Total property operating expenses	279,560	272,166
Property management expenses	14,643	13,842
General and administrative expenses	13,264	12,337
Interest expense	43,482	45,700
Loss on sale of depreciable real estate assets	29	13
Loss (gain) on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	376	(8,963)
Other non-operating expense (income)	28,532	(119)
Income before income tax expense	38,212	66,202
Income tax expense	(667)	(641)
Income from continuing operations before real estate joint venture activity	37,545	65,561
Income from real estate joint venture	407	397
Net income	37,952	65,958
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,304	2,298
Net income available for shareholders	36,648	63,660
Dividends to MAA Series I preferred shareholders	922	922
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 35,726	$ 62,738
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 0.31	$ 0.55
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 0.31	$ 0.55
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 35,726	$ 62,738
Limited Partner [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues	418,098	401,178
Expenses:
Operating expense, excluding real estate taxes and insurance	91,368	89,793
Real estate taxes and insurance	61,804	59,584
Depreciation and amortization	126,388	122,789
Total property operating expenses	279,560	272,166
Property management expenses	14,643	13,842
General and administrative expenses	13,264	12,337
Interest expense	43,482	45,700
Loss on sale of depreciable real estate assets	29	13
Loss (gain) on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	376	(8,963)
Other non-operating expense (income)	28,532	(119)
Income before income tax expense	38,212	66,202
Income tax expense	(667)	(641)
Income from continuing operations before real estate joint venture activity	37,545	65,561
Income from real estate joint venture	407	397
Net income	37,952	65,958
Dividends to preferred unitholders	922	922
Net income available for shareholders	$ 37,030	$ 65,036
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 0.31	$ 0.55
Net income available for MAALP common unitholders	0.31	0.55
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	0.31	0.55
Net income available for MAALP common unitholders	$ 0.31	$ 0.55