Summary of significant accounting policies (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024 USD ($) property	Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2024 USD ($) property	Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Property, plant and equipment depreciated on a straight-line basis using an estimated life
Maximum expected period of sale of property (in years)			1 year
Cost method investment ownership percentage	10.00%		10.00%
Percentage of total revenues	97.30%	97.40%	97.20%	97.10%
Contract with customer, asset, allowance for credit loss	$ 21,300		$ 21,300		$ 21,400
Minimum percentage of taxable income to be distributed			90.00%
Percent of taxable income, generally distributed as dividend			100.00%
Income from rentals
Operating leases	745,626	$ 695,019	$ 1,491,687	$ 1,372,441
Direct financing and sales-type leases	662	650	1,321	1,298
Revenues subject to the new lease accounting standard	746,288	695,669	1,493,008	1,373,739
Revenue	$ 766,734	713,900	$ 1,535,842	1,414,695
Land improvements | Maximum
Property, plant and equipment depreciated on a straight-line basis using an estimated life
Estimated useful life	20 years		20 years
Buildings and building improvements | Maximum
Property, plant and equipment depreciated on a straight-line basis using an estimated life
Estimated useful life	40 years		40 years
Canada
Property, plant and equipment depreciated on a straight-line basis using an estimated life
Number of real estate properties | property	12		12
Income from rentals
Income from rentals
Revenues subject to the revenue recognition accounting standard	$ 8,900		$ 17,700
Revenue	755,162	704,339	1,510,713	1,392,288
Income from rentals | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Income from rentals
Revenues subject to the revenue recognition accounting standard	8,874	8,670	17,705	18,549
Other income
Income from rentals
Revenue	$ 11,572	$ 9,561	$ 25,129	$ 22,407