Exhibit 23.1

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference to our firm in Item 6-Selected Financial Data in
this Annual Report (Form 10-K) and to the incorporation by reference in the
Registration Statements (FORMS S-3 NO. 333-80835, NO. 333-72961, NO. 333-45533,
NO. 333-88237, NO. 333-83403, NO. 333-66257, NO. 333-06869, FORMS S-4(A) NO.
333-44576 AND NO. 333-35873) of Equity Residential Properties Trust and in the
related Prospectuses of our report dated February 5, 2002, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements and schedule of Equity Residential Properties
Trust included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31,
2001.


                                             /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

                                             Ernst & Young LLP

Chicago, Illinois
March 5, 2002