XML 77 R68.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Transactions with Related Parties - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	$ 3.7us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	$ 5.1us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	$ 4.6us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Percentage of ownership interests in Previleged Access	92.10%els_PercentageOfOwnershipInterests	91.60%els_PercentageOfOwnershipInterests
Lease agreement, term	The leases entered into between the customer and us for the rental of a Site are generally month-to-month or for a period of one to ten years, renewable upon the consent of the parties or, in some instances, as provided by statute.
Two North Riverside Plaza Joint Venture Limited Partnership [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	1.4us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = els_TwoNorthRiversidePlazaJointVentureLimitedPartnershipMember	1.4us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = els_TwoNorthRiversidePlazaJointVentureLimitedPartnershipMember	0.9us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = els_TwoNorthRiversidePlazaJointVentureLimitedPartnershipMember
Chief Executive Officer [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Due from (to) Related Party		$ 0.3us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionDueFromToRelatedParty / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember

X

- Definition

The company's ownership percentage in the operating partnership.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	els_PercentageOfOwnershipInterests
Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

A general description of the nature of the existing leasing arrangements of a lessee for all operating leases including, but not limited to: (1) rental escalation clauses; (2) renewal or purchase options; (3) guarantees or indemnities, if any, (4) restrictions imposed by lease arrangements; (5) unusual provisions or conditions; (6) contingent rentals, if any; and (7) lease expiration dates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6452660&loc=d3e36991-112694



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 40

-Subparagraph (Note 1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584154&loc=d3e38371-112697

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DescriptionOfLesseeLeasingArrangementsOperatingLeases
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Receivables to be collected from (obligations owed to) related parties, net as of the balance sheet date where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 850

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph k

-Subparagraph 1

-Article 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionDueFromToRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=els_TwoNorthRiversidePlazaJointVentureLimitedPartnershipMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: