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Investment in Real Estate - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 10, 2014
Feb. 09, 2015
Property
Dec. 31, 2014
integer
site
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]        
Escrow share distribution   51,290els_EscrowShareDistribution    
Purchase Price Allocation Adjustments        
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]        
Asset acquisition price adjustments period 1 year      
Bogue Pines & Whispering Pines        
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]        
Number Of Properties Acquired     2els_NumberOfPropertiesAcquired
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= els_BoguePinesWhisperingPinesMember
 
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price     $ 12.3els_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePrice
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= els_BoguePinesWhisperingPinesMember
 
R V Resort        
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]        
Number Of Properties Acquired       7els_NumberOfPropertiesAcquired
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= els_RVResortMember
Number Of Acquired Sites       3,868els_NumberOfAcquiredSites
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= els_RVResortMember
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price       85.7els_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePrice
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= els_RVResortMember
R V Resort | Whispering Pines - North Carolina        
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]        
Number Of Acquired Sites     278els_NumberOfAcquiredSites
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= els_RVResortMember
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= els_WhisperingPinesNorthCarolinaMember
 
Manufactured homes | Bogue Pines        
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]        
Number Of Acquired Sites     150els_NumberOfAcquiredSites
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= els_ManufacturedHomeMember
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= els_BoguePinesMember
 
Manufactured homes | Colony Cove        
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]        
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price   35.9els_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePrice
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= els_ManufacturedHomeMember
/ us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis
= els_ColonyCoveMember
   
New Credit Facilities | R V Resort        
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]        
Mortgage debt assumed       32.3us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilitiesLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= els_NewCreditFacilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= els_RVResortMember
Unamortized discount (premium)       $ 2.3us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= els_NewCreditFacilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= els_RVResortMember