Consent of Independent Auditors



We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of HRPT Properties  Trust of our report dated February 5, 1999,  included in the
Current Report on form 8-K of HRPT Properties  Trust dated March 5, 1999,  filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Our audits also included the financial  statement  schedules of HRPT  Properties
Trust  listed in Item  14(a).  These  schedules  are the  responsibility  of the
Company's  management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our
audits. In our opinion,  the financial  statement  schedules  referred to above,
when considered in relation to the basic financial  statements taken as a whole,
present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.





                                                           /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                                                           ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
March 30, 1999