Exhibit 32.1

Equity Residential

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

          In connection with the Quarterly Report of Equity Residential (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2014 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ David J. Neithercut

David J. Neithercut

Chief Executive Officer

November 6, 2014