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Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 site | Mar. 31, 2014 | Feb. 12, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Adjustment depreciation | $ 200,000els_AdjustmentDepreciation | $ 200,000els_AdjustmentDepreciation |  |
Distributions of income from unconsolidated joint ventures | 443,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions | 1,312,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions |  |
Distributions, including those in excess of basis |  | 1,400,000els_ProceedsfromEquityInvestmentDistributionsincludingthoseinexcessofbasis |  |
Distribution in excess of basis |  | 1,100,000els_ProceedsfromEquityInvestmentDistributionsamountinexcessofbasis |  |
Number Of Joint Venture Sites | 3,125els_NumberOfJointVentureSites |  |  |
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures | 17,889,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures |  |  | 13,512,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures | 884,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | 1,887,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments |  |
Other Regions | Meadows Investments |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number Of Joint Venture Sites | 1,077els_NumberOfJointVentureSites / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  |
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures | 73,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  | 0us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures | 273,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember | 277,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_MeadowsInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |
Other Regions | ECHO Financing |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Additional Investments in Joint Ventures |  |  | 4,000,000els_AdditionalInvestmentsinJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |
Number Of Joint Venture Sites | 0els_NumberOfJointVentureSites / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  |
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures | 10,365,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |  | 6,302,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures | 63,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember | (7,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_ECHOFinancingMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = els_OtherRegionsMember |  |
Florida | Lakeshore Investments |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number Of Joint Venture Sites | 342els_NumberOfJointVentureSites / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 65.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL |  |  |
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures | 51,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL |  |  | 9,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures | 96,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL | 1,179,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_LakeshoreInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_FL |  |
Arizona | Voyager Investments |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number Of Joint Venture Sites | 1,706els_NumberOfJointVentureSites / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ |  |  |
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures | 7,400,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ |  |  | 7,201,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures | $ 452,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ | $ 438,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = stpr_AZ |  |
Recreational Vehicle Resort | Voyager Investments |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = els_RecreationalVehicleResortMember |  |  |
Servicing Assets | Voyager Investments |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | 33.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentAxis = els_VoyagerMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = els_ServicingAssetsMember |  |  |

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. + Details
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- Definition The depreciation expense recognized in the current period on unconsolidated joint ventures. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities. + 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) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition 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 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
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- Definition 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 -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 9 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755396&loc=d3e33749-111570 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 11 -Article 7 + Details
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