Debt Instrument Interest Additional Interest Above LIBOR Rate

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- Definition

Debt Instrument Maturity Year

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- Definition

Initial duration period until maturity of the derivative contract.

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Line of Credit Facility, Additional Borrowing Capacity

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Line of Credit Facility Potential Term Extension Period

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The number of encumbered properties during the reporting period.

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No definition available.

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Start Date to Repay Debt Without Penalty on Prepayment

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Amount of long-term debt due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, assumed at the acquisition date.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Maximum contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Minimum contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

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Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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The amount of debt discount (net of debt premium) that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

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Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

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No definition available.

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Date the derivative contract matures, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

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No definition available.

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Gross amount of debt extinguished.

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Amount of the fee for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

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Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

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Description of the interest rate for the amounts borrowed under the credit facility, including the terms and the method for determining the interest rate (for example, fixed or variable, LIBOR plus a percentage, increasing rate, timing of interest rate resets, remarketing provisions).

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The effective interest rate during the reporting period.

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Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Indicates the number of mortgages under each classification.

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The cash outflow for incremental, external costs directly pertaining to an early extinguishment of debt, including legal costs and prepayment penalties, and excluding interest and repayment of debt principal.

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No definition available.

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The carrying amount, as of the date of the latest financial statement presented, of real estate owned but transferred to serve as collateral for the payment of the related debt obligation, primarily a secured borrowing or repurchase agreement, and for which the transferee is not permitted to sell or re-pledge them to an unrelated party.

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The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

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The cash inflow from other long-term borrowings not otherwise defined in the taxonomy (with maturities initially due beyond one year or the normal operating cycle of the entity, if longer).

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Amount of cash outflow for payment of an obligation from a lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

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The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of uncollateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

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Borrowing Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 integer	Dec. 31, 2013 integer	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 15, 2015	Sep. 02, 2014	Dec. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	$ 1,108,526,000
2015	310,609,000
Mortgage notes payable	2,012,246,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt	1,992,368,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
Mortgage notes payable, weighted average interest rate	5.20%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Debt, minimum interest rate	3.90%
Payments of Debt Extinguishment Costs	5,100,000	37,800,000
Debt, maximum interest rate	8.90%
Number Of Pledged Properties	137els_NumberOfPledgedProperties	147els_NumberOfPledgedProperties
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount (Premium), Net	(14,393,000)
Carrying values of properties encumbered	2,382,000,000	2,378,000,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Other Long-term Debt	54,000,000
New mortgage notes payable financing proceeds	169,000,000	375,500,000	159,500,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount	5,087,000us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount	37,844,000us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount	0us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Debt instrument face amount	200,000,000us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt	200,000,000us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt
Line Of Credit Facility Potential Term Extension Period	1 year	1 year
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate Description	The amended LOC bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 1.20% to 1.65%, requires an annual facility fee of 0.20% to 0.35% and matures on July 17, 2018, with an option to extend for one additional year, subject to certain conditions.
Repayments of Lines of Credit	0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit	20,000,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit	0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year	2015
Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year	2039
New Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage notes payable, weighted average interest rate	4.54%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Number of Loans	4
New Credit Facilities [Member] \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year	2034
New Credit Facilities [Member] \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year	2038
Old Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage notes payable, weighted average interest rate	5.57%	6.00%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Number of Loans	17	17
Repayments of Long-term Debt	90,000,000	107,600,000
Lines of credit, borrowing capacity		380,000,000
Lines of credit, maturity date		Sep. 15, 2016
Old Credit Facilities [Member] \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year		2014
Debt Instrument Interest Additional Interest Above London Interbank Offered Rate Rate		1.40%
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		0.25%
Old Credit Facilities [Member] \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year		2015
Debt Instrument Interest Additional Interest Above London Interbank Offered Rate Rate		2.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		0.40%
Amended Line Of Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Lines of credit, borrowing capacity	400,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Additional Borrowing Capacity	100,000,000
Lines of credit, maturity date	Jul. 17, 2018
Lines of credit, commitment and arrangement fees	3,500,000
Amended Line Of Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Interest Additional Interest Above London Interbank Offered Rate Rate	1.20%
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period	0.20%
Amended Line Of Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Interest Additional Interest Above London Interbank Offered Rate Rate	1.65%
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period	0.35%
Loans Payable [Member] \| 2011 Swap [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative, Maturity Date		Jul. 01, 2014
Loans Payable [Member] \| New Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument face amount	200,000,000
Debt, maturity date	Jan. 10, 2020
Derivative, Remaining Maturity	3 years
Loans Payable [Member] \| New Credit Facilities [Member] \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Interest Additional Interest Above London Interbank Offered Rate Rate	1.35%
Loans Payable [Member] \| New Credit Facilities [Member] \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Interest Additional Interest Above London Interbank Offered Rate Rate	1.95%
Loans Payable [Member] \| Old Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument face amount		200,000,000
Derivative, Maturity Date		Jul. 01, 2014
Debt, maturity date		Jun. 30, 2017
Derivative, Remaining Maturity		3 years
Start Date To Repay Debt Without Penalty On Prepayment		Jul. 01, 2014
Loans Payable [Member] \| Old Credit Facilities [Member] \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Interest Additional Interest Above London Interbank Offered Rate Rate		1.85%
Loans Payable [Member] \| Old Credit Facilities [Member] \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Interest Additional Interest Above London Interbank Offered Rate Rate		2.80%
Manufactured homes \| New Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Number of Loans		22
Number Of Pledged Properties	2
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.46%
New mortgage notes payable financing proceeds		375,500,000
Manufactured homes \| Old Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage notes payable, weighted average interest rate							5.65%
Number Of Pledged Properties		29
Repayments of Long-term Debt		312,200,000
R V Resort [Member] \| New Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number Of Pledged Properties	2
Subsequent Event [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Payments of Debt Extinguishment Costs				9,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] \| New Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Number of Loans				2
Number Of Pledged Properties				11
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				4.16%
New mortgage notes payable financing proceeds				199,000,000
Debt Instrument, Term				25 years
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Old Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage notes payable, weighted average interest rate				5.57%
Debt Instrument Maturity Year				2015
Number Of Pledged Properties				15
Repayments of Long-term Debt				190,000,000
Colony Cove [Member] \| Manufactured homes \| New Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.64%
New mortgage notes payable financing proceeds	115,000,000
Debt Instrument, Term	25 years
Colony Cove [Member] \| Manufactured homes \| Old Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year						2017
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.65%
Repayments of Long-term Debt					53,800,000
Diversified Portfolio [Member] \| R V Resort [Member] \| New Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.48%
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Long-term Debt	13,300,000							18,700,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount (Premium), Net	1,000,000							1,300,000
Diversified Portfolio [Member] \| R V Resort [Member] \| New Credit Facilities [Member] \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year	2017
Diversified Portfolio [Member] \| R V Resort [Member] \| New Credit Facilities [Member] \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year	2018
Mesa Spirit [Member] \| R V Resort [Member] \| New Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year						2017
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						5.66%
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Long-term Debt						19,000,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount (Premium), Net						1,000,000
Neshonoc Lakeside [Member] \| R V Resort [Member] \| New Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year		2022
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.00%
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Long-term Debt		$ 5,400,000