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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Basis of Presentation | Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. ("ELS"), a Maryland corporation, together with MHC Operating Limited Partnership (the "Operating Partnership") and its other consolidated subsidiaries (the "Subsidiaries"), are referred to herein as "we," "us," and "our." We are a fully integrated owner and operator of lifestyle-oriented properties ("Properties") consisting primarily of manufactured home ("MH") and recreational vehicle ("RV") communities. We provide our customers the opportunity to place manufactured homes, cottages or RVs on our Properties either on a long-term or short-term basis. Our customers may lease individual developed areas ("Sites") or enter into right-to-use contracts, also known as membership subscriptions, which provide them access to specific Properties for limited stays. Our Properties are owned primarily by the Operating Partnership and managed internally by affiliates of the Operating Partnership. ELS is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, has exclusive responsibility and discretion in management and control of the Operating Partnership and held a 94.6% interest as of March 31, 2020. As the general partner with control, ELS is the primary beneficiary of, and therefore consolidates, the Operating Partnership. Equity method of accounting is applied to entities in which ELS does not have a controlling interest or for variable interest entities in which ELS is not considered the primary beneficiary, but with respect to which it can exercise significant influence over operations and major decisions. Our exposure to losses associated with unconsolidated joint ventures is primarily limited to the carrying value of these investments. Accordingly, distributions from a joint venture in excess of our carrying value are recognized in earnings.
Consolidation | Equity method of accounting is applied to entities in which ELS does not have a controlling interest or for variable interest entities in which ELS is not considered the primary beneficiary, but with respect to which it can exercise significant influence over operations and major decisions. Our exposure to losses associated with unconsolidated joint ventures is primarily limited to the carrying value of these investments. Accordingly, distributions from a joint venture in excess of our carrying value are recognized in earnings.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements and New Accounting Pronouncements | Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements On January 1, 2020, we prospectively adopted FASB ("ASU 2018-15") Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (ASC 350-40), Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. ASU 2018-15 provides guidance on accounting for fees paid when the arrangement includes a software license and aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing costs to develop or obtain internal-use software. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. On January 1, 2020 we adopted FASB (“ASU 2016-13”) Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) using the modified retrospective approach. ASU 2016-13 requires entities to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Entities should use forward-looking information to better form their credit loss estimates. We are exposed to credit losses primarily through sales of annual membership subscriptions and membership upgrades and home sales. We have developed an allowance for credit losses, which represents an estimate of expected losses over the remaining contractual life of our receivables considering current market conditions and estimates for forecasts when appropriate. The estimate is a result of our ongoing assessments and evaluations of collectability, historical loss experience and future expectations in estimating credit losses in each of our receivable portfolios. We recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment of $3.9 million, which decreased opening retained earnings as of January 1, 2020. The cumulative-effect adjustment resulting from the adoption of ASU 2016-13 as of January 1, 2020 was as follows:
Balance net of allowance | Balance Sheet Location |  | Balance at December 31, 2019 |  | Adjustment due to ASU 2016-13 Adoption |  | Balance at January 1, 2020 |  | Balance at March 31, 2020
(amounts in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Annual membership subscriptions | Other assets, net |  | $ | 2,394 |  |  | $ | (1,361 | ) |  | $ | 1,033 |  |  | $ | 1,232 |
Membership upgrades | Notes receivable, net |  | $ | 25,236 |  |  | $ | (2,514 | ) |  | $ | 22,722 |  |  | $ | 23,149 |
(b) | Revenue Recognition
Rental income is accounted for in accordance with the ASC 842, Leases, and is recognized over the term of the respective lease or the length of a customer's stay. Utility recoveries are presented within Rental income on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. Expected credit losses related to the collectability of lease receivables are presented as a reduction to Rental Income. Lease receivables are presented within Other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are net of expected credit losses. See Note 3. Leases for additional information. Annual membership subscriptions and membership upgrade sales are accounted for in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Membership subscriptions provide our customers access to specific Properties for limited stays at a specified group of Properties. Payments are deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the one-year period during which access to Sites at certain Properties is provided. Membership subscription receivables are presented within Other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are net of an allowance for credit losses. Membership upgrades grant certain additional access rights to the customer and require non-refundable upfront payments. The non-refundable upfront payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over 20 years. Financed upgrade sales (also known as contract receivables) are presented within Notes receivable, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are net of an allowance for credit losses. Income from home sales is recognized when the earnings process is complete. The earnings process is complete when the home has been delivered, the purchaser has accepted the home and title has transferred. Financed home sales (also known as chattel loans) are presented within Notes receivable, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are net of an allowance for credit losses.
(c) | Restricted Cash
As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, restricted cash consists of $27.6 million and $25.1 million, respectively, primarily related to cash reserved for customer deposits and amounts escrowed for insurance and real estate taxes.
Revenue Recognition | Revenue Recognition Rental income is accounted for in accordance with the ASC 842, Leases, and is recognized over the term of the respective lease or the length of a customer's stay. Utility recoveries are presented within Rental income on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. Expected credit losses related to the collectability of lease receivables are presented as a reduction to Rental Income. Lease receivables are presented within Other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are net of expected credit losses. See Note 3. Leases for additional information. Annual membership subscriptions and membership upgrade sales are accounted for in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Membership subscriptions provide our customers access to specific Properties for limited stays at a specified group of Properties. Payments are deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the one-year period during which access to Sites at certain Properties is provided. Membership subscription receivables are presented within Other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are net of an allowance for credit losses. Membership upgrades grant certain additional access rights to the customer and require non-refundable upfront payments. The non-refundable upfront payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over 20 years. Financed upgrade sales (also known as contract receivables) are presented within Notes receivable, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are net of an allowance for credit losses. Income from home sales is recognized when the earnings process is complete. The earnings process is complete when the home has been delivered, the purchaser has accepted the home and title has transferred. Financed home sales (also known as chattel loans) are presented within Notes receivable, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are net of an allowance for credit losses.

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