Partners Capital - (Details 2)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
HPUs outstanding	146,403,274
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Redeemable Partnership Preferred Units redeemed for cash during period	12,600	3,600	131,400
Operating Partnership Units Issued To Acquire Noncontrolling Limited Partnership Interests In Consolidated Partnerships		21,500	184,000
Common OP Units redeemed in exchange for cash during period	268,000	105,000	416,000
HPUs outstanding	154,055,231
High Performance Units [Member] | AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
HPUs outstanding	2,339,950	2,339,950