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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
Comprehensive income/(loss), which is defined as the change in equity during each period from transactions and other events and circumstances from nonowner sources, including all changes in equity during a period except for those resulting from investments by or distributions to stockholders, is displayed in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss). For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company's other comprehensive income/(loss) consists of the loss (effective portion) on derivative instruments that are designated as and qualify as cash flow hedges, loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) into earnings, and the allocation of other comprehensive income/(loss) to redeemable noncontrolling interests. The loss reclassified from accumulated other income income/(loss) is included in interest expense incurred in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 10, Derivatives and Hedging Activity for further discussion. The allocation of other comprehensive income/(loss) to redeemable noncontrolling interests during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 was $87,000 and $(67,000), respectively.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-10, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. The objective of this update is to provide enhanced disclosures that will enable users of its financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on an entity’s financial position. This includes the effect or potential effect of rights of setoff associated with an entity’s recognized assets and recognized liabilities within the scope of this update. The amendments require enhanced disclosures by requiring improved information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either 1) offset on the balance sheet in accordance with the “Offsetting Guidance” in ASC 210-20-45 or ASC 815-10-45 (collectively, the offsetting guidance) or 2) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, regardless of whether they are offset in accordance with the “Offsetting Guidance”. The amendments, which were adopted by the Company for the three months reporting period ended March 31, 2013, impact the Company's disclosures related to its derivative activities. (See Note 10, Derivatives and Hedging Activity.) The new guidance did not have any impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
In February 2012, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Other Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) to require preparers to report, in one place, information about reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. For significant items reclassified out of AOCI to net income in their entirety in the same reporting period, reporting (either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes thereto) is required about the effect of the reclassifications on the respective line items in the statement where net income is presented. For items that are not reclassified to net income in their entirety in the same reporting period, a cross reference to other existing disclosures is required in the notes. The amendments, which were adopted by us for the three months reporting period ended March 31, 2013, do not have any impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the required disclosures in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income/(loss) or in the notes thereto for each of the three months period ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.
Revenue and real estate sales gain recognition
Revenue and real estate sales gain recognition
Rental income related to leases is recognized on an accrual basis when due from residents in accordance with GAAP. Rental payments are generally due on a monthly basis and recognized when earned. The Company recognizes interest income, management and other fees and incentives when earned, and the amounts are fixed and determinable.
The Company accounts for sales of real estate in accordance with GAAP. For sale transactions meeting the requirements for full accrual profit recognition, such as the Company no longer having continuing involvement in the property, we remove the related assets and liabilities from our Consolidated Balance Sheets and record the gain or loss in the period the transaction closes. For sale transactions that do not meet the full accrual sale criteria due to our continuing involvement, we evaluate the nature of the continuing involvement and account for the transaction under an alternate method of accounting. Unless certain limited criteria are met, non-monetary transactions, including property exchanges, are accounted for at fair value.
Sales to entities in which we retain or otherwise own an interest are accounted for as partial sales. If all other requirements for recognizing profit under the full accrual method have been satisfied and no other forms of continuing involvement are present, we recognize profit proportionate to the outside interest in the buyer and defer the gain on the interest we retain. The Company recognizes any deferred gain when the property is sold to a third party. In transactions accounted for by us as partial sales, we determine if the buyer of the majority equity interest in the venture was provided a preference as to cash flows in either an operating or a capital waterfall. If a cash flow preference has been provided, we recognize profit only to the extent that proceeds from the sale of the majority equity interest exceed costs related to the entire property.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
Due to the structure of the Company as a REIT and the nature of the operations for the operating properties, no provision for federal income taxes has been provided for at UDR. Historically, the Company has generally incurred only state and local excise and franchise taxes. UDR has elected for certain consolidated subsidiaries to be treated as Taxable REIT Subsidiaries (“TRS”), primarily those engaged in development activities.
Income taxes for our TRS are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rate is recognized in earnings in the period of the enactment date. The Company’s deferred tax assets are generally the result of differing depreciable lives on capitalized assets and the timing of expense recognition for certain accrued liabilities. As of March 31, 2013, UDR recorded a net income tax receivable of $1.4 million and a deferred tax asset of $24.8 million (net of a valuation allowance of $1.4 million), which are classified in "Other assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Prior to 2012, the TRS had a history of losses and, as a result, historically recognized a valuation allowance for net deferred tax assets.  Each quarter, the Company evaluates the need to retain all or a portion of the valuation allowance on its net deferred tax assets.  During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company determined that it was more likely than not that the deferred tax assets, including any remaining net operating loss carry forward, would be realized. In making this determination, the Company analyzed, among other things, its recent history of earnings from sales of depreciable property, forecasts of future earnings and its cumulative earnings for the last twelve quarters. The reversal of the valuation allowance resulted in an income tax benefit of $22.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012, which is reflected in continuing operations, and classified as "Tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiary" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. 
GAAP defines a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. GAAP also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting for interim periods, disclosure and transition.
The Company recognizes its tax positions and evaluates them using a two-step process. First, UDR determines whether a tax position is more likely than not (greater than 50 percent probability) to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company will then determine the amount of benefit to recognize and record the amount that is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement.
UDR had no material unrecognized tax benefit, accrued interest or penalties at March 31, 2013. UDR and its subsidiaries are subject to federal income tax as well as income tax of various state jurisdictions. The tax years 2008 through 2011 remain open to examination by tax jurisdictions to which we are subject. When applicable, UDR recognizes interest and/or penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.
Policy Loans Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Notes Receivable
The following table summarizes our notes receivable as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
 
Balance outstanding
 

 
March 31, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
Interest rate
Note due October 2014 - related party
$
24,481

 
$
24,481

 
2.95
%
Note due February 2017
14,580

 
13,200

 
10.00
%
Note due June 2022 (net of discount of $268 and $275)
26,232

 
26,225

 
7.00
%
Note due July 2017
900

 
100

 
8.00
%
Total notes receivable, net
$
66,193

 
$
64,006

 
 

The Company has a $24.5 million unsecured note receivable with one of its unconsolidated joint ventures, which bears an interest rate of one month LIBOR plus 2.75% per annum. Interest payments are due monthly. The note is due October 2014, and may be extended for one year.
The Company has a secured note receivable with an unaffiliated third party with an aggregate commitment of $14.6 million, which bears an interest rate of 10.00% per annum. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company loaned an additional $1.4 million under the note. Interest payments are due monthly. The note matures at the earliest of the following: (a) the closing of any private or public capital raising in the amount of $5.0 million or greater; (b) an acquisition; (c) acceleration in the event of default; or (d) the fifth anniversary of the date of the note (February 2017).
In 2012, the Company purchased mezzanine debt securing a mortgage on a class A community in West Los Angeles. The $26.5 million loan was purchased at a yield of 7.25% and bears a coupon rate of 7.00%. Interest payments are due monthly and the note is due June 2022. The discount is amortized using the effective interest method.
The Company has a secured note receivable with an unaffiliated third party with an aggregate commitment of $2.5 million, which bears an interest rate of 8.00% per annum. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company loaned an additional $800,000 under the note. Interest payments are due monthly. The note matures at the earliest of the following: (a) the closing of any private or public capital raising in the amount of $5.0 million or greater; (b) an acquisition; (c) acceleration in the event of default; or (d) the fifth anniversary of the date of the note (July 2017).
During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company recognized $1.0 million and $245,000 of interest income, net of accretion, from these notes receivable, of which $181,000 and $0 was related party interest income, respectively. Interest income is included in "Interest and other income, net" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.