Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
                                                              File No. 333-47817

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated April 3, 1998)


                                OFFER TO EXCHANGE
                                 all outstanding
                          6 3/4% Senior Notes Due 2002
         which have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933

                                       for

                          6 3/4% Senior Notes Due 2002
                          which have been so registered

                                       of

                              HRPT Properties Trust
           (formerly known as Health and Retirement Properties Trust)


                             ----------------------


         Effective July 1, 1998,  the name of Health and  Retirement  Properties
Trust (the  "Company")  was changed to "HRPT  Properties  Trust".  The Company's
trading symbol on the New York Stock Exchange,  "HRP",  remains unchanged.  Each
broker-dealer  that  received  6 3/4%  Senior  Notes  due 2002  which  have been
registered  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("New Notes"),  for its
own  account  pursuant  to the  exchange  offer  described  in the  accompanying
Prospectus  was required to  acknowledge  that it will  deliver a prospectus  in
connection with any resale of such New Notes.  See "Plan of Distribution" in the
accompanying Prospectus.

                             ----------------------

  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
       EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
             COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
                  PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
                       THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                             ----------------------

             The date of this Prospectus Supplement is July 1, 1998.