Label	Element	Value
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 70,724,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Units	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfUnits	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Employee Stock Purchase Plan	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	619,000
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Other	us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalOther	(143,000)
Adjustment For Common Unitholders In Operating Partnership	els_AdjustmentForCommonUnitholdersInOperatingPartnership	0
APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Increase for Cost Recognition	us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	2,964,000
Dividends	us-gaap_Dividends	65,975,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	3,962,000
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), after Adjustments and Tax	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativeExcludedComponentIncreaseDecreaseAfterAdjustmentsAndTax	(1,333,000)
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Units	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfUnits	63,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Employee Stock Purchase Plan	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	619,000
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Other	us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalOther	(143,000)
Adjustment For Common Unitholders In Operating Partnership	els_AdjustmentForCommonUnitholdersInOperatingPartnership	(277,000)
APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Increase for Cost Recognition	us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	2,964,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	3,962,000
Noncontrolling Interest Of Common Units [Member]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	3,849,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Units	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfUnits	(63,000)
Adjustment For Common Unitholders In Operating Partnership	els_AdjustmentForCommonUnitholdersInOperatingPartnership	277,000
Dividends	us-gaap_Dividends	3,590,000
Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	66,875,000
Dividends	us-gaap_Dividends	$ 62,385,000