Hurricane Related (Recoveries)/Charges (UNITED DOMINION REALTY, L.P.) (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013
Entity Information [Line Items]
Hurricane Related Recoveries Charges [Text Block]	HURRICANE-RELATED (RECOVERIES)/CHARGES In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, affecting three of the Company’s operating communities (1,706 apartment homes) located in New York City. The properties suffered some physical damage, and were closed to residents for a period following the hurricane. The Company has insurance policies that provide coverage for property damage and business interruption. Based on the claims filed and management’s estimates, the Company recognized a $9.0 million impairment charge for the damaged assets’ net book value and incurred $10.4 million of repair and cleanup costs during the year ended December 31, 2012. The impairment charge and the repair and cleanup costs incurred were reduced as of December 31, 2012 by $14.5 million of estimated insurance recovery, and were classified in “Hurricane related (recoveries)/charges, net” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, no further impairment charge related to the damaged assets' net book value has been recognized. With the exception of one of the properties that is under redevelopment at March 31, 2013, the rehabilitation of the remaining two properties is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2013. As of March 31, 2013, the estimated insurance recovery of $14.5 million related to the impairment charge and the repair and cleanup costs incurred has been reduced by $8.4 million of insurance proceeds received. An additional $4.6 million was received subsequent to March 31, 2013. Based on the claims filed and management’s estimates, the Company recognized $4.4 million of business interruption losses for the year ended December 31, 2012. $3.6 million of business interruption losses were related to rent concession rebates provided to tenants during the period the properties were uninhabitable and were classified in “Hurricane-related (recoveries)/charges, net,” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, and $767,000 of business interruption losses were related to rent that was not contractually receivable and were classified as a reduction to “Rental income” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company received $2.5 million of insurance proceeds for recovery of business interruption losses. An additional $548,000 was received subsequent to March 31, 2013. Of the $3.0 million of insurance proceeds received, $2.8 million related to recovery of business interruption losses incurred in 2012 and the remaining $187,000 related to recovery of business interruption losses incurred in 2013. The $3.0 million of recovery was classified as “Hurricane related (recoveries)/charges, net” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations as of March 31, 2013. To the extent that insurance proceeds ultimately exceed the difference between replacement cost and net book value of the impaired assets, the post-hurricane costs incurred, and/or business interruption losses recognized, the excess will be reflected as recovery of hurricane related charges in the period those amounts are received or when receipt is deemed probable to occur. HURRICANE-RELATED (RECOVERIES)/CHARGES In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, affecting two of the Operating Partnership’s operating communities (1,001 apartment homes) located in New York City. The properties suffered some physical damage, and were closed to residents for a period following the hurricane. The Operating Partnership has insurance policies that provide coverage for property damage and business interruption. Based on the claims filed and management’s estimates, the Operating Partnership recognized a $7.1 million impairment charge for the damaged assets’ net book value and incurred $7.0 million of repair and cleanup costs during the year ended December 31, 2012. The impairment charge and the repair and cleanup costs incurred were reduced as of December 31, 2012 by $10.8 million of estimated insurance recovery, and were classified in "Hurricane related (recoveries)/charges, net" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, no further impairment charge related to the damaged assets' net book value has been recognized. The rehabilitation of these two properties is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2013. As of March 31, 2013, the estimated recovery of $10.8 million related to the impairment charge and the repair and cleanup costs incurred has been reduced by $6.0 million of insurance proceeds received. An additional $3.2 million was received subsequent to March 31, 2013. Based on the claims filed and management’s estimates, the Operating Partnership recognized $2.2 million of business interruption losses for the year ended December 31, 2012. $1.8 million of business interruption losses were related to rent concession rebates provided to tenants during the period the properties were uninhabitable and were classified in “Hurricane-related (recoveries)/charges, net,” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, and $400,000 of business interruption losses were related to rent that was not contractually receivable and were classified as a reduction to “Rental income” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the three months March 31, 2013, the Company received $2.0 million of insurance proceeds for recovery of business interruption losses. An additional $519,000 was received subsequent to March 31, 2013. Of the $2.0 million of insurance proceeds received, $1.8 million related to recovery of business interruption losses incurred in 2012 and the remaining $187,000 related to recovery of business interruption losses incurred in 2013. The $2.0 million of recovery was classified as "Hurricane related (recoveries)/charges, net" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. To the extent that insurance proceeds ultimately exceed the difference between replacement cost and net book value of the impaired assets, the post-hurricane costs incurred, and/or business interruption losses recognized, the excess will be reflected as recovery of Hurricane related charges in the period those amounts are received or when receipt is deemed probable to occur.