Partners Capital - (Details) (AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P., USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units issued	3,278,539us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesIssued	2,926,477us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesIssued
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units outstanding	3,278,539	2,926,477
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units, Redemption Value	$ 87,943	$ 79,141
Class One [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Per Annum Distribution Rate	8.75%
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Paid, Per Unit	$ 8.00
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units issued	90,000	90,000
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units outstanding	90,000	90,000
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units, Redemption Value	8,229	8,229
Class Two [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Per Annum Distribution Rate	1.84%
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Paid, Per Unit	$ 0.46
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units issued	18,589	18,589
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units outstanding	18,589	18,589
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units, Redemption Value	465	465
Class Three [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Per Annum Distribution Rate	7.88%
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Paid, Per Unit	$ 1.97
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units issued	1,341,485	1,354,091
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units outstanding	1,354,091	1,357,691
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units, Redemption Value	33,537	33,852
Class Four [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Per Annum Distribution Rate	8.00%
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Paid, Per Unit	$ 2.00
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units issued	644,954	644,954
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units outstanding	644,954	644,954
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units, Redemption Value	16,124	16,124
Class Six [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Per Annum Distribution Rate	8.50%
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Paid, Per Unit	$ 2.13
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units issued	790,883	790,883
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units outstanding	790,883	790,883
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units, Redemption Value	19,772	19,772
Class Seven [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Per Annum Distribution Rate	7.87%
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Paid, Per Unit	$ 1.97
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units issued	27,960	27,960
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units outstanding	27,960	27,960
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units, Redemption Value	699	699
Class Nine [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Per Annum Distribution Rate	6.00%
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Paid, Per Unit	$ 1.50
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units issued	364,668	0
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units outstanding	364,668	0
Perpetual Partnership Preferred Units, Redemption Value	$ 9,117	$ 0

Temporary Equity, Distribution Made to Member or Limited Partner, Distributions Paid, Percentage

No definition available.

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- Definition

Per unit of ownership amount of cash distributions paid to unit-holder of a limited partnership (LP).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70434-108055

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- Definition

Carrying amount, attributable to parent and noncontrolling interests, of an entity's issued and outstanding stock which is not included within permanent equity. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. Includes stock with a put option held by an ESOP and stock redeemable by a holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

+ References

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- Definition

The number of securities classified as temporary equity that have been sold (or granted) to the entity's shareholders. Securities issued include securities outstanding and securities held in treasury. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. If convertible, the issuer does not control the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under the conversion option if the holder exercises the option to convert the stock to another class of equity. If the security is a warrant or a rights issue, the warrant or rights issue is considered to be temporary equity if the issuer cannot demonstrate that it would be able to deliver upon the exercise of the option by the holder in all cases. Includes stock with put option held by ESOP and stock redeemable by holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.27(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph b

-Article 5

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- Definition

The number of securities classified as temporary equity that have been issued and are held by the entity's shareholders. Securities outstanding equals securities issued minus securities held in treasury. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. If convertible, the issuer does not control the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under the conversion option if the holder exercises the option to convert the stock to another class of equity. If the security is a warrant or a rights issue, the warrant or rights issue is considered to be temporary equity if the issuer cannot demonstrate that it would be able to deliver upon the exercise of the option by the holder in all cases. Includes stock with put option held by ESOP and stock redeemable by holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

+ References

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