Estimated Amortization of Identified Intangible Assets for the Next Five Years (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Expected Amortization Expense [Line Items]
Year ending December 31, 2011	$ 1,892
Year ending December 31, 2012	1,792
Year ending December 31, 2013	432
Year ending December 31, 2014	349
Year ending December 31, 2015	$ 349

Expected Amortization Expense [Line Items]

Name:	els_ExpectedAmortizationExpenseLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	els
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the remainder of the current fiscal year.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during year four of the five succeeding fiscal years.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(3)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during year one of the five succeeding fiscal years.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearOne
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during year three of the five succeeding fiscal years.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during year two of the five succeeding fiscal years.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration