Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues	$ 425,005	$ 418,098
Expenses:
Operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes and insurance	95,961	91,368
Real estate taxes and insurance	66,507	61,804
Depreciation and amortization	131,503	126,388
Total property operating expenses	293,971	279,560
Property management expenses	12,939	14,643
General and administrative expenses	12,979	13,264
Interest expense	39,672	43,482
Loss on sale of depreciable real estate assets		29
Loss on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets		376
Other non-operating expense	15,913	28,532
Income before income tax expense	49,531	38,212
Income tax expense	(999)	(667)
Income from continuing operations before real estate joint venture activity	48,532	37,545
Income from real estate joint venture	332	407
Net income	48,864	37,952
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,671	1,304
Net income available for shareholders	47,193	36,648
Dividends to MAA Series I preferred shareholders	922	922
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 46,271	$ 35,726
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 0.40	$ 0.31
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 0.40	$ 0.31
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 46,271	$ 35,726
Limited Partner [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues	425,005	418,098
Expenses:
Operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes and insurance	95,961	91,368
Real estate taxes and insurance	66,507	61,804
Depreciation and amortization	131,503	126,388
Total property operating expenses	293,971	279,560
Property management expenses	12,939	14,643
General and administrative expenses	12,979	13,264
Interest expense	39,672	43,482
Loss on sale of depreciable real estate assets		29
Loss on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets		376
Other non-operating expense	15,913	28,532
Income before income tax expense	49,531	38,212
Income tax expense	(999)	(667)
Income from continuing operations before real estate joint venture activity	48,532	37,545
Income from real estate joint venture	332	407
Net income	48,864	37,952
Dividends to preferred unitholders	922	922
Net income available for shareholders	$ 47,942	$ 37,030
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 0.40	$ 0.31
Net income available for MAALP common unitholders	0.40	0.31
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	0.40	0.31
Net income available for MAALP common unitholders	$ 0.40	$ 0.31