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Business | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Business [Abstract] |
Business |
1. | Business
Equity Residential (“EQR”), a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”) formed in March 1993, is an S&P 500 company focused on the acquisition, development and management of high quality apartment properties in top United States growth markets. ERP Operating Limited Partnership ("ERPOP"), an Illinois limited partnership, was formed in May 1993 to conduct the multifamily residential property business of Equity Residential. EQR has elected to be taxed as a REIT. References to the "Company," "we," "us" or "our" mean collectively EQR, ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by EQR and/or ERPOP. References to the "Operating Partnership" mean collectively ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by ERPOP. Unless otherwise indicated, the notes to consolidated financial statements apply to both the Company and the Operating Partnership. EQR is the general partner of, and as of December 31, 2014 owned an approximate 96.2% ownership interest in, ERPOP. All of the Company's property ownership, development and related business operations are conducted through the Operating Partnership and EQR has no material assets or liabilities other than its investment in ERPOP. EQR issues public equity from time to time but does not have any indebtedness as all debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership holds substantially all of the assets of the Company, including the Company's ownership interests in its joint ventures. The Operating Partnership conducts the operations of the business and is structured as a partnership with no publicly traded equity. As of December 31, 2014, the Company, directly or indirectly through investments in title holding entities, owned all or a portion of 391 properties located in 12 states and the District of Columbia consisting of 109,225 apartment units. The ownership breakdown includes (table does not include various uncompleted development properties):
|  | Properties |  | Apartment Units
Wholly Owned Properties |  | 364 |  |  | 98,287 |
Master-Leased Properties – Consolidated |  | 3 |  |  | 853 |
Partially Owned Properties – Consolidated |  | 19 |  |  | 3,771 |
Partially Owned Properties – Unconsolidated |  | 3 |  |  | 1,281 |
Military Housing |  | 2 |  |  | 5,033 |
|  | 391 |  |  | 109,225 |
The “Wholly Owned Properties” are accounted for under the consolidation method of accounting. The "Master-Leased Properties – Consolidated" are wholly owned by the Company but the entire project is leased to a third party corporate housing provider. These properties are consolidated and reflected as real estate assets while the master leases are accounted for as operating leases. The “Partially Owned Properties – Consolidated” are controlled by the Company but have partners with noncontrolling interests and are accounted for under the consolidation method of accounting. The “Partially Owned Properties – Unconsolidated” are controlled by the Company's partners but the Company has noncontrolling interests and are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The “Military Housing” properties consist of investments in limited liability companies that, as a result of the terms of the operating agreements, are accounted for as management contract rights with all fees recognized as fee and asset management revenue. The Company maintains long-term ground leases for 13 operating properties and one of its wholly owned development properties and land parcels. The Company owns the building and improvements and leases the land underlying the improvements under long-term ground leases. The leases expire beginning in 2026 and running through 2110. These properties are consolidated and reflected as real estate assets while the ground leases are accounted for as operating leases.

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