Future Minimum Rents Scheduled to be Received under Non-Cancelable Tenant Leases (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Operating Leases [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, Current	$ 62,392
2014	63,537
2015	25,291
2016	12,465
2017	11,954
Operating leases, future minimum payments receivable thereafter	38,230
Operating leases, future minimum payments receivable	$ 213,869

Name:	els_ScheduleOfOperatingLeasesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Future minimum rental payments in aggregate as of the balance sheet date under operating leases.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6454179&loc=d3e41551-112718

+ Details

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

- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within one year of the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within the fifth year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within the fourth year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within the third year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within the second year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Future minimum lease payments receivable under operating leases for periods greater than five years following the balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

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