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Investment in Joint Ventures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Apr. 19, 2013 | Jul. 14, 2014 | Feb. 12, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity income from unconsolidated joint ventures | $ 4,578,000 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ 2,039,000 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | $ 1,899,000 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments |  |  |
Number Of Joint Venture Sites | 3,125 els_NumberOfJointVentureSites |  |  |  |  |
Adjustment Depreciation | 900,000 els_AdjustmentDepreciation | 1,000,000 els_AdjustmentDepreciation | 1,200,000 els_AdjustmentDepreciation |  |  |
Proceeds from Equity Investment, Distributions, including those in excess of basis | 5,900,000 els_ProceedsfromEquityInvestmentDistributionsincludingthoseinexcessofbasis |  |  |  |  |
Distributions from equity unconsolidated joint ventures | 3,362,000 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions | 1,311,000 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions | 1,839,000 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions |  |  |
Proceeds from Equity Investment, Distributions, amount in excess of basis | 2,365,000 els_ProceedsfromEquityInvestmentDistributionsamountinexcessofbasis |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures | 13,512,000 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures | 11,583,000 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Net Sales Proceeds | 100,000 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNetSalesProceeds |  |  |  |  |
Other Regions [Member] | ECHO Financing [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity income from unconsolidated joint ventures | 103,000 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember | 58,000 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember | 0 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  |
Number Of Joint Venture Sites | 0 els_NumberOfJointVentureSites / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  |  |  |
Economic Interest | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures | 6,302,000 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember | 2,685,000 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  | 1,000,000 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |
Lakeshore Investments [Member] | FLORIDA |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity income from unconsolidated joint ventures | 1,350,000 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL | 271,000 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL | 250,000 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL |  |  |
Number Of Joint Venture Sites | 342 els_NumberOfJointVentureSites / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL |  |  |  |  |
Economic Interest | 65.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures | 9,000 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL | 145,000 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL |  |  |  |
Other Investments [Member] | Other Regions [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity income from unconsolidated joint ventures | 25,000 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember | (188,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember | (15,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  |
Number Of Joint Venture Sites | 0 els_NumberOfJointVentureSites / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  |  |  |
Economic Interest | 20.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures | 0 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember | 0 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  |  |
Other Regions [Member] | Other Investments [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Economic Interest |  |  |  |  | 20.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |
Subsequent Event [Member] | Other Regions [Member] | ECHO Financing [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures |  |  |  |  |  | $ 10,502,000 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember

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- Definition The depreciation expense recognized in the current period on unconsolidated joint ventures. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of joint venture sites. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Proceeds from Equity Investment, Distributions, amount in excess of basis + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Proceeds from Equity Investment, Distributions, including those in excess of basis + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities. + 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 SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition This item represents the amount of net sales proceeds received on disposal of an equity method investment. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 35 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35687916&loc=d3e32847-111569 + Details
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- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
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- Definition This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee. + 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 SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 9 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755396&loc=d3e33749-111570 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 11 -Article 7 + Details
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- Definition Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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