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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 rLGRZ+hqHWQtJ65Epupbuw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000908737-04-000322.txt : 20040402
<SEC-HEADER>0000908737-04-000322.hdr.sgml : 20040402
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040402175205
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000908737-04-000322
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040401
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040402

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SENIOR HOUSING PROPERTIES TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001075415
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				043445278
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 CENTRE STREET
		CITY:			NEWTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02458
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6173323990

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARTIN GERARD M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241557

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15319
		FILM NUMBER:		04715222

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O REIT MANAGEMENT RESEARCH LLC
		STREET 2:		400 CENTRE STREET
		CITY:			NEWTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02458
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6179281300
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>gmartinform4_apr02ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001075415</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SENIOR HOUSING PROPERTIES TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYSE:SNH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241557</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARTIN GERARD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O REIT MANAGEMENT RESEARCH LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>400 CENTRE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02458</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7785</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.71</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>68988.8</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents payment of shares by the issuer pursuant to an Advisory Agreement with Reit Management &amp; Research, LLC (&quot;RMR&quot;), of which Mr. Martin is a director and 50% owner.  The Rye, Inc. (&quot;Rye&quot;), a corporation of which Mr. Martin is the sole shareholder, purchased the reported shares from RMR upon their issuance.  Such transfers were exempt from Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;) pursuant to Rule 16a-13 thereunder.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares of the issuer owned by HRPT Properties Trust, of which Mr. Martin is a trustee and beneficially owns less than 0.4% of its common shares, were previously reported on Mr. Martin's filings under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, although beneficial ownership was disclaimed, and are no longer being reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Held by Rye.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gerard M. Martin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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