XML 50 R30.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.21.2

Organization and Basis of Presentation - Narrative (Details) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) community building partnership project apartment investment shares | Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) community building partnership project apartment investment shares | Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) investment community partnership shares
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Apartment communities owned (in communities) | community | 246 |  | 246 |  |
Apartment units owned (in apartments) | apartment | 60,799 |  | 60,799 |  |
Ownership interest, number of commercial buildings (in commercial buildings) | building | 3 |  | 3 |  |
Ownership interest, number of active development projects (in projects) | project | 2 |  | 2 |  |
Ownership interest, number of unconsolidated joint venture projects (in projects) | project | 1 |  | 1 |  |
Equity securities | $ 2,500,000 |  | $ 2,500,000 |  | $ 2,500,000
Sales and maturities of marketable securities | 100,000 | $ 52,600,000 | 15,000,000 | $ 56,900,000 |
Marketable securities, realized gain (loss) | $ 0 | 91,000 | 2,500,000 | 100,000 |
Unrealized gains on equity securities recognized through income |  |  | $ 23,772,000 | 2,215,000 |
DownREIT limited partnerships consolidated by company (in partnerships) | partnership | 18 |  | 18 |  | 17
Communities within DownREIT partnerships (in communities) | community | 9 |  | 9 |  | 9
Number of previously consolidated co-investments considered VIE (in investments) | investment | 6 |  | 6 |  | 5
Assets related to variable interest entities net of intercompany eliminations | $ 909,100,000 |  | $ 909,100,000 |  | $ 898,500,000
Liabilities related to variable interest entities net of intercompany eliminations | 323,300,000 |  | 323,300,000 |  | 326,800,000
Noncontrolling interest in variable interest entity | 122,400,000 |  | 122,400,000 |  | 120,800,000
Fixed rate debt carrying amount | 5,700,000,000 |  | 5,700,000,000 |  | 5,500,000,000
Fixed rate debt fair value | 6,100,000,000 |  | 6,100,000,000 |  | 6,000,000,000
Variable rate debt, carrying amount | 366,400,000 |  | 366,400,000 |  | 775,100,000
Variable rate debt fair value | 364,300,000 |  | 364,300,000 |  | 770,100,000
Capitalized internal costs related to development and redevelopment projects | 5,600,000 | 6,100,000 | 17,500,000 | 24,900,000 |
Redeemable noncontrolling interest | $ 32,698,000 |  | $ 32,698,000 |  | $ 32,239,000
Maximum |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Apartment lease term | 12 months |  | 12 months |  |
Minimum |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Apartment lease term | 9 months |  | 9 months |  |
Interest And Other Income (Expense) |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized gains on equity securities recognized through income | $ 7,100,000 | $ 3,300,000 | $ 23,800,000 | 2,200,000 |
Essex Portfolio, L.P. |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Operating Partnership units outstanding (in shares) | shares | 2,282,464 |  | 2,282,464 |  | 2,294,760
Redemption value of operating partnership units outstanding | $ 729,800,000 |  | $ 729,800,000 |  | $ 544,800,000
Unrealized gains on equity securities recognized through income |  |  | 23,772,000 | $ 2,215,000 |
Redeemable noncontrolling interest | $ 32,698,000 |  | $ 32,698,000 |  | $ 32,239,000
Partnership Interest |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest in partnership |  |  | 96.60% |  | 96.60%

X
- Definition Aggregate number of apartment units owned as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_AggregateApartmentUnitsOwned
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Apartment Lease Term + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_ApartmentLeaseTerm
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The carrying amount of the assets in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE) net of intercompany eliminations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_AssetsRelatedToVariableInterestEntitiesNetIntercompanyEliminations
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of for cost of asset previously incurred and capitalized separately from the capitalized amount of the associated long-lived assets. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_CapitalizedInternalCostsRelatedToDevelopmentAndRedevelopmentProjects
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of debt obligations and debt which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_FixedRateDebtCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value of the current and noncurrent portions, as of the balance sheet date, of debt obligations and debt which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_FixedRateDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The carrying amount of the liabilities in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE) net intercompany eliminations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_LiabilitiesRelatedToVariableInterestEntitiesNetOfIntercompanyEliminations
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of apartment communities owned as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_NumberOfApartmentCommunitiesOwned
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of communities within the DownREIT partnerships. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_NumberOfCommunitiesWithinDownreitPartnerships
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of DownREIT limited partnerships the company consolidates. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_NumberOfDownreitLimitedPartnershipsConsolidatedByCompany
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Operating partnership units owned by noncontrolling interest partners, including Long Term Incentive Plan Units which convert to Partnership units. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_OperatingPartnershipUnitsOutstanding
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of active development projects in which the company has an ownership interest. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_OwnershipInterestsNumberOfActiveDevelopmentProjects
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of commercial buildings in which the company has an ownership interest. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_OwnershipInterestsNumberOfCommercialBuildings
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Ownership Interests, Number Of Unconsolidated Joint Venture Projects + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_OwnershipInterestsNumberOfUnconsolidatedJointVentureProjects
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Description of redemption value of total operating partnership units. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_RedemptionValueOfOperatingPartnershipUnitsOutstanding
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Variable Interest Entity, Number Of Consolidated Co-investments Determined To Be Variable Interest Entities + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_VariableInterestEntityNumberOfConsolidatedCoinvestmentsDeterminedToBeVariableInterestEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings, outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a rate subject to change from time to time. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_VariableRateDebtCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The fair value of long-term borrowings, outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a rate subject to change from time to time. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ess_VariableRateDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | ess_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI), classified as current. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123594786&loc=SL75136599-209740 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNi
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of unrealized gain (loss) on investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 220 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(3)(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400993&loc=SL114874131-224263 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 321 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123583765&loc=SL75117546-209714 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGainLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the limited liability company (LLC) or limited partnership (LP). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 272 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerOwnershipInterest
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of realized gain (loss) on investment in marketable security, including other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Portion of equity (net assets) in a variable interest entity (VIE) not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the parent entity. That is, this is the portion of equity in a VIE that is attributable to the noncontrolling interest (previously referred to as minority interest). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInVariableInterestEntity
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cash inflow associated with the aggregate amount received by the entity through sale or maturity of marketable securities (held-to-maturity or available-for-sale) during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfMarketableSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition As of the reporting date, the aggregate carrying amount of all noncontrolling interests which are redeemable by the (parent) entity (1) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (2) at the option of the holder of the noncontrolling interest, or (3) upon occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the (parent) entity. This item includes noncontrolling interest holder's ownership (or holders' ownership) regardless of the type of equity interest (common, preferred, other) including all potential organizational (legal) forms of the investee entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 480 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3A -Subparagraph (16)(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=122040564&loc=SL6540498-122764 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 480 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3A -Subparagraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=122040564&loc=SL6540498-122764 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 480 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3A -Subparagraph (12)(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=122040564&loc=SL6540498-122764 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 480 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3A -Subparagraph 14 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=122040564&loc=SL6540498-122764 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=ess_InterestAndOtherIncomeExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=ess_EssexPortfolioL.P.Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_OwnershipAxis=ess_OperatingPartnershipMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |