XML 46 R75.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 integer	Dec. 31, 2013 integer	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquired site property			1,765els_NumberOfAcquiredSites
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price			$ 25,000,000els_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePrice
New mortgage notes payable financing proceeds	169,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	375,500,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	159,500,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt
Number of properties used as a pledge	137els_NumberOfPledgedProperties	147els_NumberOfPledgedProperties
Debt, minimum interest rate	3.90%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMinimum
Debt, maximum interest rate	8.90%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMaximum
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 3,999,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	$ 1,940,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	$ 45,122,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Minimum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year	2015
Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Year	2039
R V Resort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquired portfolio			2els_NumberOfPropertiesAcquired / us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis = els_RVResortMember

X

- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to purchase price.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

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+ References

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- Definition

Number of Acquired Sites

+ References

No definition available.

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X

- Definition

The number of encumbered properties during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

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X

- Definition

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+ 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)

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

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

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

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- Definition

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

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228



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