Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	Related Party Transactions The Company has adopted written related party transaction guidelines that are intended to cover transactions in which the Company (including entities it controls) is a party and in which any “related person” has a direct or indirect interest. A “related person” means any Company director, director nominee, or executive officer, any beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, and any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons. A related person may be considered to have an indirect interest in a transaction if he or she (i) is an owner, director, officer or employee of or otherwise associated with another company that is engaging in a transaction with the Company, or (ii) otherwise, through one or more entities or arrangements, has an indirect financial interest in or personal benefit from the transaction. The related person transaction review and approval process is intended to determine, among any other relevant issues, the dollar amount involved in the transaction; the nature and value of any related person’s direct or indirect interest (if any) in the transaction; and whether or not (i) a related person’s interest is material, (ii) the transaction is fair, reasonable, and serves the best interest of the Company and its shareholders, and (iii) whether the transaction or relationship should be entered into, continued or ended. The Company’s Chairman and founder, Mr. George Marcus, is the Chairman of the Marcus & Millichap Company (“MMC”), which is a parent company of a diversified group of real estate service, investment, and development firms. Mr. Marcus is also the Co-Chairman of Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (“MMI”), and Mr. Marcus owns a controlling interest in MMI. MMI is a national brokerage firm listed on the NYSE that underwent its initial public offering in 2013. Essex Apartment Value Fund II, L.P. (“Fund II”) paid brokerage commissions totaling $0.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively, to an affiliate of MMI related to the sales of properties in 2013 and 2012, respectively. There were no brokerage commissions paid by the Company to MMI or its affiliates during 2015, 2014, and 2013. The Company charges certain fees relating to its co-investments for asset management, property management, development and redevelopment services. These fees from affiliates total $15.6 million, $16.5 million, and $11.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. All of these fees are net of intercompany amounts eliminated by the Company. The Company netted development and redevelopment fees of $6.7 million, $7.2 million, and $4.4 million against general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In March 2015, a multi-family property, located in Anaheim, CA that was owned by an entity affiliated with MMC, in which the Company held a $13.7 million preferred equity investment, was sold. That investment of $13.7 million plus an additional $1.3 million in cash was invested as outlined in the next two paragraphs. Prior to the property sale, the $13.7 million preferred equity investment earned a 9.0% preferred return and was scheduled to mature in September 2020. In June 2015, the Company made a $10.0 million preferred equity investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns Greentree Apartments, a 220 apartment community located in San Jose, CA. This investment will earn a 9.5% preferred return and is scheduled to mature in June 2022. In June 2015, the Company made a $5.0 million preferred equity investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns Sterling Cove Apartments, a 218 apartment community located in Concord, CA. This investment will earn a 9.5% preferred return and is scheduled to mature in June 2022. In August 2015, the Company made a $5 million preferred equity investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns Alta Vista Apartments, a 92 apartment community located in Los Angeles, CA. This investment will earn a 9.5% preferred return and is scheduled to mature in August 2022. In July 2014, the Company acquired Paragon Apartments, a 301 unit apartment community located in Fremont, CA for $111.0 million from an entity that was partially owned by an affiliate of MMC. As described in Note 4, the Company has provided short-term bridge loans to affiliates. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, $3.1 million and $8.1 million, respectively, of short-term loans remained outstanding due from joint venture affiliates and is classified within notes and other receivables in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. In January 2013, the Company invested $8.6 million as a preferred equity interest investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns an apartment development in Redwood City, California. In March 2015 the Company's preferred interest investment was prepaid and the Company recognized a gain of $0.5 million as a result of the prepayment. In 2010, an Executive Vice President of the Company invested $4.0 million for a 3% limited partnership interest in a partnership with the Company that owns Essex Skyline at MacArthur Place. The Executive Vice President’s investment is equal to a pro-rata share of the contributions to the limited partnership. The Executive Vice President’s investment also receives pro-rata distributions resulting from distributable cash generated by the property if and when distributions are made.

Related Party Transactions

The Company has adopted written related party transaction guidelines that are intended to cover transactions in which the Company (including entities it controls) is a party and in which any “related person” has a direct or indirect interest. A “related person” means any Company director, director nominee, or executive officer, any beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, and any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons. A related person may be considered to have an indirect interest in a transaction if he or she (i) is an owner, director, officer or employee of or otherwise associated with another company that is engaging in a transaction with the Company, or (ii) otherwise, through one or more entities or arrangements, has an indirect financial interest in or personal benefit from the transaction.

The related person transaction review and approval process is intended to determine, among any other relevant issues, the dollar amount involved in the transaction; the nature and value of any related person’s direct or indirect interest (if any) in the transaction; and whether or not (i) a related person’s interest is material, (ii) the transaction is fair, reasonable, and serves the best interest of the Company and its shareholders, and (iii) whether the transaction or relationship should be entered into, continued or ended.

The Company’s Chairman and founder, Mr. George Marcus, is the Chairman of the Marcus & Millichap Company (“MMC”), which is a parent company of a diversified group of real estate service, investment, and development firms. Mr. Marcus is also the Co-Chairman of Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (“MMI”), and Mr. Marcus owns a controlling interest in MMI. MMI is a national brokerage firm listed on the NYSE that underwent its initial public offering in 2013. Essex Apartment Value Fund II, L.P. (“Fund II”) paid brokerage commissions totaling $0.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively, to an affiliate of MMI related to the sales of properties in 2013 and 2012, respectively. There were no brokerage commissions paid by the Company to MMI or its affiliates during 2015, 2014, and 2013.

The Company charges certain fees relating to its co-investments for asset management, property management, development and redevelopment services. These fees from affiliates total $15.6 million, $16.5 million, and $11.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. All of these fees are net of intercompany amounts eliminated by the Company. The Company netted development and redevelopment fees of $6.7 million, $7.2 million, and $4.4 million against general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

In March 2015, a multi-family property, located in Anaheim, CA that was owned by an entity affiliated with MMC, in which the Company held a $13.7 million preferred equity investment, was sold. That investment of $13.7 million plus an additional $1.3 million in cash was invested as outlined in the next two paragraphs. Prior to the property sale, the $13.7 million preferred equity investment earned a 9.0% preferred return and was scheduled to mature in September 2020.

In June 2015, the Company made a $10.0 million preferred equity investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns Greentree Apartments, a 220 apartment community located in San Jose, CA. This investment will earn a 9.5% preferred return and is scheduled to mature in June 2022.

In June 2015, the Company made a $5.0 million preferred equity investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns Sterling Cove Apartments, a 218 apartment community located in Concord, CA. This investment will earn a 9.5% preferred return and is scheduled to mature in June 2022.

In August 2015, the Company made a $5 million preferred equity investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns Alta Vista Apartments, a 92 apartment community located in Los Angeles, CA. This investment will earn a 9.5% preferred return and is scheduled to mature in August 2022.

In July 2014, the Company acquired Paragon Apartments, a 301 unit apartment community located in Fremont, CA for $111.0 million from an entity that was partially owned by an affiliate of MMC.

As described in Note 4, the Company has provided short-term bridge loans to affiliates. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, $3.1 million and $8.1 million, respectively, of short-term loans remained outstanding due from joint venture affiliates and is classified within notes and other receivables in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

In January 2013, the Company invested $8.6 million as a preferred equity interest investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns an apartment development in Redwood City, California. In March 2015 the Company's preferred interest investment was prepaid and the Company recognized a gain of $0.5 million as a result of the prepayment.

In 2010, an Executive Vice President of the Company invested $4.0 million for a 3% limited partnership interest in a partnership with the Company that owns Essex Skyline at MacArthur Place. The Executive Vice President’s investment is equal to a pro-rata share of the contributions to the limited partnership. The Executive Vice President’s investment also receives pro-rata distributions resulting from distributable cash generated by the property if and when distributions are made.