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Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 19, 2013	Feb. 12, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number Of Joint Venture Sites	3,125els_NumberOfJointVentureSites
Investment in joint ventures	$ 13,512,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	$ 11,583,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	4,578,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	2,039,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1,899,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Adjustment Depreciation	900,000els_AdjustmentDepreciation	1,000,000els_AdjustmentDepreciation	1,200,000els_AdjustmentDepreciation
Meadows Investments | Other Regions [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number Of Joint Venture Sites	1,077els_NumberOfJointVentureSites / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember
Economic Interest	50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember
Investment in joint ventures	0us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember	1,679,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	2,294,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember	1,138,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember	1,012,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember
Lakeshore Investments [Member] | FLORIDA
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number Of Joint Venture Sites	342els_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
Investment in joint ventures	9,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL	145,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	1,350,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL	271,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL	250,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL
Voyager | Arizona
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number Of Joint Venture Sites	1,706els_NumberOfJointVentureSites / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ
Economic Interest	50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ
Investment in joint ventures	7,201,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ	7,074,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	806,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ	760,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ	652,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ
Other Investments [Member] | Other Regions [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number Of Joint Venture Sites	0els_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
Investment in joint ventures	0us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember	0us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	25,000us-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
Servicing Assets | Voyager
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Economic Interest	33.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = els_ServicingAssetsMember
Recreational Vehicle Resort [Member] | Voyager
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Economic Interest	50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = els_RecreationalVehicleResortMember
ECHO Financing [Member] | Other Regions [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number Of Joint Venture Sites	0els_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
Investment in joint ventures	6,302,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember	2,685,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember		1,000,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	103,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember	58,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember	0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember
Subsequent Event [Member] | ECHO Financing [Member] | Other Regions [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Contribution to Joint Venture					4,200,000els_AdditionalInvestmentsinJointVentures / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Investment in joint ventures					$ 10,502,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember

X

- Definition

Additional investments after the initial investment 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

No definition available.

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The depreciation expense recognized in the current period on unconsolidated joint ventures.

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The number of joint venture sites.

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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

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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

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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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.

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