Leases - Summary of Minimum Future Operating Lease Payments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Noncancelable Operating Leases [Line Items]
2024	$ 3,752
2025	4,437
2026	4,077
2027	3,819
2028	3,640
Thereafter	14,584
Total undiscounted rental payments	34,309
Less imputed interest	(6,298)
Total lease liabilities	28,011	$ 25,700
Ground Leases
Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Noncancelable Operating Leases [Line Items]
2024	550
2025	680
2026	684
2027	689
2028	685
Thereafter	3,840
Total undiscounted rental payments	7,128
Less imputed interest	(1,774)
Total lease liabilities	5,354
Office and Other Leases
Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Noncancelable Operating Leases [Line Items]
2024	3,202
2025	3,757
2026	3,393
2027	3,130
2028	2,955
Thereafter	10,744
Total undiscounted rental payments	27,181
Less imputed interest	(4,524)
Total lease liabilities	$ 22,657

Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Noncancelable Operating Leases [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	els_FutureMinimumLeasePaymentsUnderNoncancelableOperatingLeasesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Payments, Due After Year Four

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	els_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	els_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of lessee's undiscounted obligation for lease payment for operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147478964/842-20-50-6

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of lessee's undiscounted obligation for lease payment for operating lease to be paid in next fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of lessee's undiscounted obligation for lease payment for operating lease to be paid in fourth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of lessee's undiscounted obligation for lease payment for operating lease to be paid in third fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of lessee's undiscounted obligation for lease payment for operating lease to be paid in second fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of lessee's undiscounted obligation for lease payment for operating lease having initial or remaining lease term in excess of one year to be paid in remainder of current fiscal year.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147478964/842-20-50-6

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of lessee's undiscounted obligation for lease payments in excess of discounted obligation for lease payments for operating lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Present value of lessee's discounted obligation for lease payments from operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479041/842-20-45-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=els_GroundLeaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=els_OfficeAndOtherLeasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: