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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 Rate
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Gain reclassified from accumulated OCI into income, net | $ 1.4us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths |  |
2014 Swap | Term Loans |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Fixed interest rate | 1.04%us-gaap_DerivativeFixedInterestRate / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = els_A2014SwapMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LoansPayableMember |  |
Maturity date | Aug. 01, 2017 |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 1.35%us-gaap_DerivativeBasisSpreadOnVariableRate / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = els_A2014SwapMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LoansPayableMember |  |
Interest rate at period end | 2.39%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = els_A2014SwapMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LoansPayableMember |  |
2011 Swap | Term Loans |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Fixed interest rate |  |  | 1.11%us-gaap_DerivativeFixedInterestRate / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = els_A2011SwapMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
Maturity years |  | 3 years |
Maturity date |  |  | Jul. 01, 2014

X
- Definition Initial duration period until maturity of the derivative contract. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | els_DerivativeMaturityYears
Namespace Prefix: | els_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The estimated net amount of existing gains or losses on cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736893&loc=d3e80748-113994 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the interest rate derivative. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fixed interest rate related to the interest rate derivative. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeFixedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition Date the derivative contract matures, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeMaturityDates
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=els_A2011SwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=els_A2014SwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |