CONSENT OF COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this registration statement of
Bay Apartment Communities, Inc. on Form S-3 (File No. 333-15875) on our audits
of the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of
Bay Apartment Communities, Inc. as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and for the
year ended December 31, 1995, the period from March 17, 1994 to December 31,
1994, and the period January 1, 1994 to March 16, 1994, for the Greenbriar
Group, which report is included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, of our
reports dated July 3, 1996, on our audits of the Historical Summary of Gross
Income and Direct Operating Expenses of Countrybrook Apartments for the three
months ended March 31, 1996, and the year ended December 31, 1995, the
Historical summary of Gross Income and Direct Operating Expenses of Parkside
Commons Apartments for the three months ended March 31, 1996, and the year
ended December 31, 1995, the Historical Summary of Gross Income and Direct
Operating Expenses of Villa Marguerite Apartments for the three months ended
March 31, 1996, and the year ended December 31, 1995, and the Historical
Summary of Gross Income and Direct Operating Expenses of Sunset Towers
Apartments for the three months ended March 31, 1996, and the year ended
December 31, 1995, which reports are included in the Current Report on Form 8-K
dated May 23, 1996, as amended by the Current Report on Form 8-K/A, dated May
23, 1996, and of our report dated July 30, 1996 and September 17, 1996 on our
audits of the Historical Summary of Revenues and Direct Operating Expenses of
The Fountains Apartments and Channing Heights Apartments for the year ended
December 31, 1995, respectively, which reports are included in the Current
Report on Form 8-K dated July 26, 1996. We also consent to the reference to
our Firm under the caption "Experts."


COOPERS AND LYBRAND L.L.P.


San Francisco, California
November 18, 1996