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v2.4.1.9

Changes In Accumulated Depreciation (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items] |  |  |
Rental Home Depreciation Expense | $ 10,900,000 els_RentalHomeDepreciationExpense | $ 6,500,000 els_RentalHomeDepreciationExpense | $ 5,600,000 els_RentalHomeDepreciationExpense
Beginning Balance | 1,058,540,000 us-gaap_RealEstateAccumulatedDepreciation | 948,581,000 us-gaap_RealEstateAccumulatedDepreciation | 807,329,000 us-gaap_RealEstateAccumulatedDepreciation
Depreciation on real estate assets and rental homes | 111,065,000 els_RealEstateDepreciationExpenseAndRentalHomes | 108,229,000 els_RealEstateDepreciationExpenseAndRentalHomes | 102,083,000 els_RealEstateDepreciationExpenseAndRentalHomes
Amortization of Intangible Assets for Continuing Operations | 3,999,000 els_AmortizationofIntangibleAssetsforContinuingOperations | 1,940,000 els_AmortizationofIntangibleAssetsforContinuingOperations | 39,467,000 els_AmortizationofIntangibleAssetsforContinuingOperations
Dispositions and other | (4,112,000)els_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationAccumulatedDepreciationDispositionsAndOther | (210,000)els_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationAccumulatedDepreciationDispositionsAndOther | (298,000)els_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationAccumulatedDepreciationDispositionsAndOther
Ending Balance | $ 1,169,492,000 us-gaap_RealEstateAccumulatedDepreciation | $ 1,058,540,000 us-gaap_RealEstateAccumulatedDepreciation | $ 948,581,000 us-gaap_RealEstateAccumulatedDepreciation

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- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings for continuing operations 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 continuing operations using the indirect method. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | els_AmortizationofIntangibleAssetsforContinuingOperations
Namespace Prefix: | els_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Real Estate And Accumulated Depreciation, Accumulated Depreciation Dispositions And Other + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | els_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationAccumulatedDepreciationDispositionsAndOther
Namespace Prefix: | els_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Current period depreciation expense on real-estate and rental homes that reflects the allocation of the cost over the asset’s useful life. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | els_RealEstateDepreciationExpenseAndRentalHomes
Namespace Prefix: | els_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Current period depreciation expense on rental homes. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | els_RentalHomeDepreciationExpense
Namespace Prefix: | els_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of accumulated depreciation pertaining to real estate investments for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 970 -SubTopic 360 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28.FN4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6590653&loc=d3e638233-123024 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule III) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 28 -Article 12 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph c -Subparagraph Schedule III -Article 5 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration