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

Amount, before accumulated depreciation, of real estate investment by entity with substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate or interest in real estate. Excludes real estate not held as investment or interest.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 970
-SubTopic 360
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28(Column E))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120402810&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.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 970
-SubTopic 360
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28(Footnote 4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120402810&loc=d3e638233-123024

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/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 970
-SubTopic 360
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28(Footnote 4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120402810&loc=d3e638233-123024

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.