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

Amount, before accumulated depreciation, of real estate investments for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule III)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 970
-SubTopic 360
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28.4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6590653&loc=d3e638233-123024

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

Amount of increase in real estate investments related to improvements for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate.

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

Amount of increase in real estate investments from acquisitions other than through foreclosure for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 970
-SubTopic 360
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28.4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6590653&loc=d3e638233-123024

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule III)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

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

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.