Consolidated Statements of Partners' Capital (USD $) In Thousands	Total	AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P.	Preferred Units AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P.	General Partner and Special Limited Partner AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P.	Limited Partners AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P.	Partners’ Capital Attributable to the Partnership AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P.	Non - controlling Interests AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P.
Partners' Capital at Dec. 31, 2011		$ 1,144,674	$ 657,114	$ 251,215	$ (34,321)	$ 874,008	$ 270,666
Issuance of preferred units to Aimco		9,818	10,039			9,818
Issuance of preferred units to Aimco (issuance costs)				(221)
Redemption of preferred units held by Aimco		(600,938)	(599,039)			(600,938)
Redemption of preferred units held by Aimco				(1,899)
Issuance of common partnership units to Aimco		594,379		594,379		594,379
Redemption of partnership units held by non-Aimco partners		(11,079)			(11,079)	(11,079)
Amortization of Aimco stock-based compensation		5,223		5,223		5,223
Issuance of common partnership units to Aimco in connection with exercise of Aimco stock options	48,907	48,907		48,907		48,907
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	2,928	2,928					2,928
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities	(50,654)	(53,240)		(54,799)	10,022	(44,777)	(8,463)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,433	3,433		3,318	199	3,517	(84)
Other, net		4,547		2	4,545	4,547
Net income (loss)		188,865		132,456	5,191	137,647	51,218
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(51,353)	(45,200)					(45,200)
Distributions to common unitholders		(110,159)		(104,006)	(6,153)	(110,159)
Distributions to preferred unitholders		(27,264)		(27,264)		(27,264)
Partners' Capital at Dec. 31, 2012		1,154,894	68,114	847,311	(31,596)	883,829	271,065
Redemption of partnership units held by non-Aimco partners		(3,085)			(3,085)	(3,085)
Amortization of Aimco stock-based compensation		5,915		5,915		5,915
Issuance of common partnership units to Aimco in connection with exercise of Aimco stock options	993	993		993		993
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	1,630	1,630					1,630
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities	(17,900)	(17,675)		(19,805)	2,635	(17,170)	(505)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(776)	(776)		(1,060)	(58)	(1,118)	342
Other, net		2,248		1,555	386	1,941	307
Net income (loss)		231,402		207,290	11,639	218,929	12,473
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(59,946)	(52,304)					(52,304)
Distributions to common unitholders		(147,694)		(140,052)	(7,642)	(147,694)
Distributions to preferred unitholders		(2,804)		(2,804)		(2,804)
Partners' Capital at Dec. 31, 2013		1,172,744	68,114	899,343	(27,721)	939,736	233,008
Issuance of preferred units to Aimco		123,552	128,012			123,552
Issuance of preferred units to Aimco (issuance costs)				(4,460)
Redemption of preferred units held by Aimco		(9,516)	(10,000)			(9,516)
Redemption of preferred units held by Aimco				484
Redemption of partnership units held by non-Aimco partners		(7,756)			(7,756)	(7,756)
Amortization of Aimco stock-based compensation		6,139		6,139		6,139
Issuance of common partnership units to Aimco in connection with exercise of Aimco stock options	768	768		768		768
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	11,559	11,559					11,559
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities		712		(8,097)	8,888	791	(79)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,813)	(1,813)		(1,854)	(97)	(1,951)	138
Other, net		181		202	0	202	(21)
Net income (loss)		349,614		309,249	15,770	325,019	24,595
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(43,914)	(35,904)					(35,904)
Distributions to common unitholders		(160,001)		(151,991)	(8,010)	(160,001)
Distributions to preferred unitholders		(8,174)		(8,174)		(8,174)
Partners' Capital at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 1,442,105	$ 186,126	$ 1,041,609	$ (18,926)	$ 1,208,809	$ 233,296