Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	$ 2,778,386	$ 2,701,356
Buildings and improvements	11,007,760	10,664,745
Total rental properties	13,786,146	13,366,101
Less: accumulated depreciation	(3,447,848)	(3,209,548)
Net real estate	10,338,298	10,156,553
Real estate under development	542,207	454,629
Co-investments	1,324,081	1,300,140
Total real estate	12,204,586	11,911,322
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	38,168	134,465
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	16,803	16,930
Marketable securities	215,434	209,545
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $10.6 million and $11.1 million as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)	74,416	71,895
Operating lease right-of-use assets	76,205	0
Prepaid expenses and other assets	45,533	39,439
Total assets	12,671,145	12,383,596
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	4,294,312	3,799,316
Mortgage notes payable, net	1,429,939	1,806,626
Lines of credit	117,000	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	140,188	127,086
Construction payable	59,720	59,345
Dividends/Distributions payable	134,440	128,529
Operating lease liabilities	78,226
Other liabilities	35,374	33,375
Total liabilities	6,289,199	5,954,277
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	36,830	35,475
Equity/Capital:
Common stock; $0.0001 par value, 670,000,000 shares authorized; 65,726,808 and 65,890,322 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	7	7
Additional paid-in capital	7,031,886	7,093,079
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(857,994)	(812,796)
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(18,992)	(13,217)
Total stockholders' equity	6,154,907	6,267,073
Noncontrolling interest	190,209	126,771
Total equity	6,345,116	6,393,844
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,671,145	12,383,596
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	2,778,386	2,701,356
Buildings and improvements	11,007,760	10,664,745
Total rental properties	13,786,146	13,366,101
Less: accumulated depreciation	(3,447,848)	(3,209,548)
Net real estate	10,338,298	10,156,553
Real estate under development	542,207	454,629
Co-investments	1,324,081	1,300,140
Total real estate	12,204,586	11,911,322
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	38,168	134,465
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	16,803	16,930
Marketable securities	215,434	209,545
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $10.6 million and $11.1 million as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)	74,416	71,895
Operating lease right-of-use assets	76,205
Prepaid expenses and other assets	45,533	39,439
Total assets	12,671,145	12,383,596
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	4,294,312	3,799,316
Mortgage notes payable, net	1,429,939	1,806,626
Lines of credit	117,000	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	140,188	127,086
Construction payable	59,720	59,345
Dividends/Distributions payable	134,440	128,529
Operating lease liabilities	78,226
Other liabilities	35,374	33,375
Total liabilities	6,289,199	5,954,277
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	36,830	35,475
General Partner:
Common equity (65,726,808 and 65,890,322 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,173,899	6,280,290
Limited Partners:
Common equity (2,299,237 and 2,305,389 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	57,726	59,061
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(15,715)	(9,738)
Total partners' capital	6,215,910	6,329,613
Noncontrolling interest	129,206	64,231
Total capital	6,345,116	6,393,844
Total liabilities and equity/capital	$ 12,671,145	$ 12,383,596