As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 1997

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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                   FORM 8-K

               CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 19, 1997 
                                                        (March 13, 1997)

                      EQUITY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 
 
          Maryland                        1-12252                36-3877868
(State or other jurisdiction             (Commission         (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)        File Number)        Identification No.)
 
 
                     Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 400
                               Chicago, Illinois                        60606
                   (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)

      Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (312) 474-1300

                                 Not applicable
         (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

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ITEM 7.  Financial Statements, Pro forma Financial Information and Exhibits



 
          Exhibit
          Number             Exhibit
          -------            -------
 
                          
             1               Form of Purchase Agreement dated March 13, 1997
                             which is being filed pursuant to Regulation S-K,
                             Item 601(b)(1) as an exhibit to the Registrant's
                             registration statement on Form S-3, file no.
                             333-12211, under the Securities Act of 1933, as
                             amended, and which, as this Form 8-K filing is
                             incorporated by reference in such registration
                             statement, is set forth in full in such
                             registration statement.

             5               Opinion of Rosenberg & Liebentritt, P.C., with an
                             opinion of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. attached thereto
                             as Exhibit A, which are being filed pursuant to
                             Regulation 601(b)(5) as an exhibit to the
                             Registrant's registration statement on Form S-3,
                             file no. 333-12211, under the Securities Act of
                             1933, as amended, and which, as this Form 8-K
                             filing is incorporated by reference in such
                             registration statement, are set forth in full in
                             such registration statement.


                                  SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                     EQUITY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES 
                                           TRUST


Date:  March 19, 1997                By: /s/ Bruce C. Strohm
                                         _______________________________________
                                         Bruce C. Strohm, Secretary,
                                         Executive Vice President and 
                                         General Counsel

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