Exhibit 23.1

                   Consent of Independent Public Accountants


The Board of Directors
Essex Property Trust, Inc.;

We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statements on Form
S-3 (No. 333-68503, No. 333-44467 and No. 333-21989), and the registration
statements on Form S-8 (No. 33-84830 and No. 333-55646) of Essex Property Trust,
Inc. our report dated February 2, 2001 relating to the consolidated balance
sheets of Essex Property Trust, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000
and 1999 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders'
equity and cash flows of Essex Property Trust, Inc. and subsidiaries for each of
the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2000 and the related
financial statement schedule, which report appears in the December 31, 2000
annual report on Form 10-K of Essex Property Trust, Inc.


/s/ KPMG LLP

San Francisco, California
March 30, 2001