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Ground Leases - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Operating Leases [Line Items]      
Operating Leases, Rent Expense $ 3,700,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense $ 5,100,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense $ 4,600,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due 33,130,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months 3,803,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Two Years 3,909,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, in Three Years 3,948,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears    
Description of Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases
The majority of the lease terms require twelve equal payments per year plus additional rents calculated as a percentage of gross revenues.
   
Operating Lease terms
The leases entered into between the customer and us for the rental of a Site are generally month-to-month or for a period of one to ten years, renewable upon the consent of the parties or, in some instances, as provided by statute.
    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Four Years 3,994,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, in Five Years 3,888,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due Thereafter 13,588,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter    
Corporate Office Lease [Member]      
Schedule of Operating Leases [Line Items]      
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due 13,692,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_OfficeLeaseMember		    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months 1,862,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_OfficeLeaseMember		    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Two Years 1,961,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_OfficeLeaseMember		    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, in Three Years 1,993,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_OfficeLeaseMember		    
Ground leases, expiration period year 2023    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Four Years 2,039,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_OfficeLeaseMember		    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, in Five Years 1,925,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_OfficeLeaseMember		    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due Thereafter 3,912,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_OfficeLeaseMember		    
Ground Lease [Member]      
Schedule of Operating Leases [Line Items]      
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due 19,438,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_GroundLeaseMember		    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months 1,941,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_GroundLeaseMember		    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Two Years 1,948,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_GroundLeaseMember		    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, in Three Years 1,955,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_GroundLeaseMember		    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Four Years 1,955,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_GroundLeaseMember		    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, in Five Years 1,963,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_GroundLeaseMember		    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due Thereafter $ 9,676,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter
/ us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis
= els_GroundLeaseMember		    
Ground Lease [Member] | Minimum      
Schedule of Operating Leases [Line Items]      
Ground leases, expiration period year 2015    
Ground Lease [Member] | Maximum      
Schedule of Operating Leases [Line Items]      
Ground leases, expiration period year 2054