CONSENT OF COOPERS & LYBRAND LLP

EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this registration of Bay
Apartment Communities, Inc. on Form S-3 (File No. 333- ), of our report
dated January 26, 1996, 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 & Lybrand L.L.P.

San Francisco, California
November 21, 1996