Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events Unsecured Senior Notes In February 2018, the Operating Partnership issued $500.0 million of 4.25% unsecured senior notes with a maturity date of February 15, 2028 (the "2028 Notes"). Interest on the 2028 Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing on August 15, 2018. The Operating Partnership received net proceeds of $494.0 million from this issuance, after underwriting fees of approximately $3.2 million and a $2.8 million discount, and before estimated offering costs of $1.5 million. The Operating Partnership intends to use the net proceeds from this issuance for general corporate purposes, including, without limitation, acquisition of properties, the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, capital expenditures, the expansion, redevelopment and/or improvement of our properties, working capital and other general purposes, including repurchases of securities. The 2028 Notes are the Operating Partnership's unsecured and unsubordinated obligation and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Operating Partnership’s existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The Operating Partnership may redeem the 2028 Notes at any time, in whole or in part, at the applicable redemption price specified in the Indenture with respect to the 2028 Notes. If the 2028 Notes are redeemed on or after November 15, 2027 (three months prior to the maturity date), the redemption price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2028 Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the redemption date. The 2028 Notes have been initially guaranteed by American Residential Properties OP, L.P., (the “Guarantor Subsidiary”), a 100% owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, but such guarantee will be automatically released at the time that the Guarantor Subsidiary no longer guarantees our credit facility. In October 2017, in anticipation of the issuance of the 2028 Notes and in order to hedge interest rate risk, the Operating Partnership entered into a treasury lock agreement on a notional amount of $350.0 million, based on the 10-year treasury note rate at the time. The treasury lock was designated as a cash flow hedging instrument and had a fair value of $0.1 million as of December 31, 2017, which was included in escrow deposits, prepaid expenses and other assets within the consolidated balance sheets, with a corresponding unrealized gain reflected in other comprehensive income. The treasury lock was settled upon the issuance of the 2028 Notes in February 2018 and resulted in a $9.6 million gain that will be recorded in other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings as a reduction of interest expense over the term of the 2028 Notes. Including the effect of the settlement of the cash flow hedging instrument, the 2028 Notes yield an effective interest rate of 4.08%. Credit Facilities From January 1, 2018, through February 23, 2018, the Company borrowed an additional $100.0 million and paid down $240.0 million under our revolving credit facility, resulting in no outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility and $200.0 million of outstanding borrowings under our term loan facility as of February 23, 2018. Subsequent Acquisitions From January 1, 2018, through February 23, 2018, the Company acquired approximately 550 properties for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $123 million, which included 7 homes developed through our internal construction program. Share Repurchase Program During February 2018, the Company's board of trustees authorized the repurchase of up to $300.0 million of our outstanding Class A common shares and up to $250.0 million of our outstanding preferred shares. Common and preferred share repurchases may be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Declaration of Dividends On February 22, 2018, the Company's board of trustees declared quarterly dividends of $0.05 per share on the Company's Class A common shares, $0.05 per share on the Company's Class B common shares, $0.34 per share on the Company's 5.5% Series C participating preferred shares, $0.41 per share on the Company’s 6.5% Series D perpetual preferred shares, $0.40 per share on the Company’s 6.35% Series E perpetual preferred shares, $0.37 per share on the Company’s 5.875% Series F perpetual preferred shares, and $0.37 per share on the Company’s 5.875% Series G perpetual preferred shares. The quarterly dividends are payable on April 2, 2018, to shareholders of record on March 15, 2018. The Operating Partnership funds the payment of distributions, and an equivalent amount of distributions were declared on the corresponding Operating Partnership units. Legal Matters On January 16, 2018, we received a letter from the staff of the SEC stating that it is conducting an investigation captioned “Trading in Silver Bay Realty Trust Corp.” The letter enclosed a subpoena that requests us to produce certain documents and communications, including those related to our communications and agreements with Silver Bay Realty Trust Corp. (“Silver Bay”), communications with Silver Bay’s financial advisor, and our purchases, sales and holdings of Silver Bay stock. We purchased Silver Bay stock in 2016 and 2017 and then sold all of our holdings in 2017 for a profit of approximately $3.0 million. We intend to cooperate fully with the SEC in connection with this matter. We do not believe this matter will have a material adverse impact on our financial position or results of operations upon resolution.

Subsequent Events

Unsecured Senior Notes

In February 2018, the Operating Partnership issued $500.0 million of 4.25% unsecured senior notes with a maturity date of February 15, 2028 (the "2028 Notes"). Interest on the 2028 Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing on August 15, 2018. The Operating Partnership received net proceeds of $494.0 million from this issuance, after underwriting fees of approximately $3.2 million and a $2.8 million discount, and before estimated offering costs of $1.5 million. The Operating Partnership intends to use the net proceeds from this issuance for general corporate purposes, including, without limitation, acquisition of properties, the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, capital expenditures, the expansion, redevelopment and/or improvement of our properties, working capital and other general purposes, including repurchases of securities. The 2028 Notes are the Operating Partnership's unsecured and unsubordinated obligation and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Operating Partnership’s existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The Operating Partnership may redeem the 2028 Notes at any time, in whole or in part, at the applicable redemption price specified in the Indenture with respect to the 2028 Notes. If the 2028 Notes are redeemed on or after November 15, 2027 (three months prior to the maturity date), the redemption price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2028 Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the redemption date. The 2028 Notes have been initially guaranteed by American Residential Properties OP, L.P., (the “Guarantor Subsidiary”), a 100% owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, but such guarantee will be automatically released at the time that the Guarantor Subsidiary no longer guarantees our credit facility.

In October 2017, in anticipation of the issuance of the 2028 Notes and in order to hedge interest rate risk, the Operating Partnership entered into a treasury lock agreement on a notional amount of $350.0 million, based on the 10-year treasury note rate at the time. The treasury lock was designated as a cash flow hedging instrument and had a fair value of $0.1 million as of December 31, 2017, which was included in escrow deposits, prepaid expenses and other assets within the consolidated balance sheets, with a corresponding unrealized gain reflected in other comprehensive income. The treasury lock was settled upon the issuance of the 2028 Notes in February 2018 and resulted in a $9.6 million gain that will be recorded in other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings as a reduction of interest expense over the term of the 2028 Notes. Including the effect of the settlement of the cash flow hedging instrument, the 2028 Notes yield an effective interest rate of 4.08%.

Credit Facilities

From January 1, 2018, through February 23, 2018, the Company borrowed an additional $100.0 million and paid down $240.0 million under our revolving credit facility, resulting in no outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility and $200.0 million of outstanding borrowings under our term loan facility as of February 23, 2018.

Subsequent Acquisitions

From January 1, 2018, through February 23, 2018, the Company acquired approximately 550 properties for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $123 million, which included 7 homes developed through our internal construction program.

Share Repurchase Program

During February 2018, the Company's board of trustees authorized the repurchase of up to $300.0 million of our outstanding Class A common shares and up to $250.0 million of our outstanding preferred shares. Common and preferred share repurchases may be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.

Declaration of Dividends

On February 22, 2018, the Company's board of trustees declared quarterly dividends of $0.05 per share on the Company's Class A common shares, $0.05 per share on the Company's Class B common shares, $0.34 per share on the Company's 5.5% Series C participating preferred shares, $0.41 per share on the Company’s 6.5% Series D perpetual preferred shares, $0.40 per share on the Company’s 6.35% Series E perpetual preferred shares, $0.37 per share on the Company’s 5.875% Series F perpetual preferred shares, and $0.37 per share on the Company’s 5.875% Series G perpetual preferred shares. The quarterly dividends are payable on April 2, 2018, to shareholders of record on March 15, 2018. The Operating Partnership funds the payment of distributions, and an equivalent amount of distributions were declared on the corresponding Operating Partnership units.

Legal Matters

On January 16, 2018, we received a letter from the staff of the SEC stating that it is conducting an investigation captioned “Trading in Silver Bay Realty Trust Corp.” The letter enclosed a subpoena that requests us to produce certain documents and communications, including those related to our communications and agreements with Silver Bay Realty Trust Corp. (“Silver Bay”), communications with Silver Bay’s financial advisor, and our purchases, sales and holdings of Silver Bay stock. We purchased Silver Bay stock in 2016 and 2017 and then sold all of our holdings in 2017 for a profit of approximately $3.0 million. We intend to cooperate fully with the SEC in connection with this matter. We do not believe this matter will have a material adverse impact on our financial position or results of operations upon resolution.