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Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 integer | Dec. 31, 2013 integer | Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of acquired site property |  |  | 1,765 els_NumberOfAcquiredSites
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price |  |  | $ 25,000,000 els_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePrice
New mortgage notes payable financing proceeds | 169,000,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt | 375,500,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt | 159,500,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt
Number of properties used as a pledge | 137 els_NumberOfPledgedProperties | 147 els_NumberOfPledgedProperties |
Debt, minimum interest rate | 3.90%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMinimum |  |
Debt, maximum interest rate | 8.90%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMaximum |  |
Amortization of Intangible Assets | $ 3,999,000 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets | $ 1,940,000 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets | $ 45,122,000 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Minimum |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt Instrument Maturity Year | 2015 |  |
Maximum |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt Instrument Maturity Year | 2039 |  |
R V Resort [Member] |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of acquired portfolio |  |  | 2 els_NumberOfPropertiesAcquired / us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis = els_RVResortMember

X
- Definition The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to purchase price. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of Acquired Sites + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number Of Properties Acquired + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Maximum contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3255-108585 + Details
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