Name:	els_PreferredStockThatCanBeIssuedByBoardOfDirectorsWithoutStockholdersApproval
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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Stock Repurchase, Issuance Expense

No definition available.

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

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_AuctionMarketPreferredSecuritiesStockSeriesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The cash outflow for reacquisition of callable preferred stock.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3291-108585

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfRedeemablePreferredStock
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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The percentage rate used to calculate dividend payments on preferred stock.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockDividendRatePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of preferred stock outstanding.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Face amount or stated value per share of preferred stock nonredeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682