Reportable Segments- Income from Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Community base rental income	$ 109,270els_CommunityBaseRentalIncome	$ 106,045els_CommunityBaseRentalIncome
Resort base rental income	51,645els_ResortBaseRentalIncome	44,949els_ResortBaseRentalIncome
Right-to-use annual payments	10,981els_RightToUseAnnualPayments	11,214els_RightToUseAnnualPayments
Right-to-use contracts current period, gross	2,797	3,081
Right-to-use contract upfront payments, deferred, net	(773)	(1,147)
Utility and other income	19,082els_UtilityAndOtherIncome	17,571els_UtilityAndOtherIncome
Gross revenue from home sales	6,937us-gaap_SalesOfRealEstate	5,178us-gaap_SalesOfRealEstate
Brokered resale revenues and ancillary services revenues, net	1,982us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet	1,799us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet
Rental home income	3,554els_RentalHomeIncome	3,757els_RentalHomeIncome
Total revenues	208,414us-gaap_Revenues	196,745us-gaap_Revenues
Expenses:
Property operating and maintenance	61,117	58,696
Real estate taxes	12,594us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense	12,485us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense
Sales and marketing, gross	2,522us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense	2,563us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense
Right-to-use contract commissions, deferred, net	(243)	(555)
Property management	11,290us-gaap_OwnedPropertyManagementCosts	10,632us-gaap_OwnedPropertyManagementCosts
Cost of home sales	6,724us-gaap_CostOfRealEstateSales	5,368us-gaap_CostOfRealEstateSales
Home selling expenses	805us-gaap_SellingExpense	569us-gaap_SellingExpense
Rental home operating and maintenance	1,669	1,908
Total expenses	177,485us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses	154,742us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses
Income from property operations segment	30,929	42,003
Property Operations
Revenues:
Community base rental income	109,270	106,045
Resort base rental income	51,645	44,949
Right-to-use annual payments	10,981	11,214
Right-to-use contracts current period, gross	2,797	3,081
Right-to-use contract upfront payments, deferred, net	(773)	(1,147)
Utility and other income	19,082	17,571
Ancillary services revenues, net	1,687	1,504
Total revenues	194,689	183,217
Expenses:
Property operating and maintenance	61,117	58,696
Real estate taxes	12,594	12,485
Sales and marketing, gross	2,522	2,563
Right-to-use contract commissions, deferred, net	(243)	(555)
Property management	11,290	10,632
Total expenses	87,280	83,821
Income from property operations segment	107,409	99,396
Home Sales and Rentals Operations
Revenues:
Gross revenue from home sales	6,937	5,178
Brokered resale revenues and ancillary services revenues, net	295	295
Rental home income	3,554	3,757
Total revenues	10,786	9,230
Expenses:
Cost of home sales	6,724	5,368
Home selling expenses	805	569
Rental home operating and maintenance	1,669	1,908
Total expenses	9,198	7,845
Income from property operations segment	$ 1,588	$ 1,385

The total amount of revenue recognized for the period from manufactured home community site operating leases.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenue earned during the period from renting out homes of the reporting entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Rental home operating costs incurred during the reporting period and may include amounts paid to maintain the homes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	els_RentalHomeOperatingAndMaintenanceExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of revenue recognized for the period from recreational vehicle sites.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Annual payments, which are required to be made by members during the term of the contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Upfront payments received from right to use contracts. The contracts give members the right to use certain properties on a continuous basis up to 21 days.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Deferral of upfront payments, net of revenue recognized previously.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	els_RightToUseContractsDeferredNetOfPriorPeriodAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Deferral of commission expenses associated with right to use contracts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	els_SalesAndMarketingDeferredCommissionsNet
Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reimbursable tenant utility and other income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	els_UtilityAndOtherIncome
Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other operating costs incurred during the reporting period and may include amounts paid to maintain the property.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects for the period the total of the carrying amount of the commercial, industrial and residential land and buildings sold plus certain overhead and other costs incurred to place the real estate in saleable condition, capitalized interest costs in the properties sold, and inventory impairment losses recognized. This element would most likely be used by an entity whose principal activities involve real estate or which has significant real estate operations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CostOfRealEstateSales
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total costs of sales and operating expenses for the period.

+ References

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- Definition

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenues from the sale of other goods or rendering of other services, not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy; net of (reduced by) sales adjustments, returns, allowances, and discounts.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a),(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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Name:	us-gaap_OtherSalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate costs related to management of owned properties during the reporting period.

+ References

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Name:	us-gaap_OwnedPropertyManagementCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A tax based on the assessed value of real estate by the local government. The tax is usually based on the value of property (including the land).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 720

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6419918&loc=d3e35301-107843

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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- Definition

Revenue from the sale of commercial, industrial, or residential property during the period. This element is more likely than not relevant to an entity for which real estate operations are a principal activity. If real estate operations are not a principal activity, the reporting entity would likely use a gain (loss) on sale of property, plant, or equipment type element.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from services rendered in the normal course of business, after deducting allowances and discounts.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

The aggregate total amount of expenses directly related to the marketing or selling of products or services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expenses recognized in the period that are directly related to the selling and distribution of products or services.

+ References

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Balance Type:	debit
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