Exhibit 99.1




                  Certification Required by 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350
                (Section 906 of the Sarbanes - Oxley Act of 2002)
                ------------------------------------------------



         In connection with the filing by Senior Housing  Properties  Trust (the
"Company") of the Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September
30, 2002 (the "Report"),  each of the undersigned hereby certifies,  to the best
of his knowledge:

         1.       The Report fully  complies  with the  requirements  of Section
                  13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. And

         2.       The information  contained in the Report fairly  presents,  in
                  all material respects,  the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Company.




/s/Barry M. Portnoy                                  /s/David J. Hegarty
Barry M. Portnoy                                     David J. Hegarty
Managing Trustee                                     President and Chief
                                                     Operating Officer


/s/ Gerard M. Martin                                 /s/ John R. Hoadley
Gerard M. Martin                                     John R. Hoadley
Managing Trustee                                     Treasurer and Chief
                                                     Financial Officer