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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000908737-09-000153.txt : 20090803
<SEC-HEADER>0000908737-09-000153.hdr.sgml : 20090801
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090608140611
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000908737-09-000153
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090608

FILER:

	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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 CENTRE STREET
		CITY:			NEWTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02458
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6173323990
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
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    <title>snh_corresp.htm</title>
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    <body bgcolor="#ffffff" style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Senior
Housing Properties Trust</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">400
Centre Street</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Newton,
MA&#160;&#160;02458</font><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">June
8, 2009</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">VIA
FAX AND EDGAR</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Mr.
Daniel Gordon</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Branch
Chief</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">United
States Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Division
of Corporation Finance</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">100
F St. Street, N.E.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Washington,
D.C. 20549</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <div align="left">
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="5%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: verdana">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">RE:</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="90%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Senior
      Housing Properties Trust (the &#8220;Company&#8221;)</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Form
      10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Filed
      March 2, 2009 (the &#8220;Filing&#8221;)</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">File
      No. 001-15319</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Dear
Mr. Gordon:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">We
are writing in response to your letter dated May 8, 2009.&#160;&#160;For your
convenience, your original comments appear below in bold text and are followed
by our responses.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Item 7. Management&#8217;s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, page
50</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">1.&#160;&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">In
      future filings, please provide the average effective annual rental per
      square foot or unit, for the last three years, of your properties based on
      the breakdown you provide in the tables on page
  50.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">In
future reports on Form 10-K, we will provide the average effective annual rental
per square foot for the last three years, based upon the breakdown we provide in
the tables on page 50 of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, for
our new segment of properties, which consists of our medical office, clinic and
biotech laboratory buildings.&#160;&#160;Because these leases vary greatly in
terms, such as whether they are leased on a triple net basis versus a gross
lease basis, we will also indicate in footnotes into which categories such
leases fall to facilitate comparability among leases.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">In
future reports on Form 10-K, we will also provide the average effective annual
rental per living unit or bed for the last three years, based upon the breakdown
we provide in the tables on page 50 of our Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2008, for our segment of short term and long term residential care
facilities that offer dining for residents, other than our rehabilitation
hospitals.&#160;&#160;Our rehabilitation hospitals contain clinic space and our
other properties not in either of our reportable segments, mainly wellness
centers, contain indoor and outdoor recreation space, such as pools and tennis
courts.&#160;&#160;In both cases, these spaces </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
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        </div>
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        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
        </div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">-2-</font></div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">may
contain extensive square footage that is not comparable to the rest of the
facility <font size="+0">and</font> may vary greatly from facility to facility
that make reports of average effective annual rental per bed or square foot
meaningless.&#160;&#160;Accordingly, we do not believe that the average
effective annual rental per bed or square foot provides meaningful information
in understanding our financial condition, changes in financial condition or
results of operations for these properties.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Similarly,
in future reports on Form 10-Q, we will provide the information described above
for the applicable periods presented in the Management&#8217;s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, or MD&amp;A, sections of such
Form 10-Qs.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">2.&#160;&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">We
      note on page 25 of exhibit 99.2 to your Form 8-K filed on February 27,
      2009 the lease expiration date.&#160;&#160;Because of the materiality of
      such disclosure, please include the table on page 25 in your future
      filings. Such table should also include the number of tenants whose leases
      will expire and the total area or applicable unit covered by such
      leases.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">In
future MD&amp;A sections of our reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K, we will
include a lease expiration table similar to that furnished on page 25 of exhibit
99.2 of our Form 8-K that was furnished on February 27, 2009.&#160;&#160;This
table discloses the amount of annualized current rent expiring each year and we
will also disclose the number of tenants whose leases expire and the associated
total areas or units covered by such leases.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements, page F-7.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Note 3. Real Estate
Properties, page F-10</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">3.&#160;&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Please
      tell us why you have not included a purchase price allocation for
      significant real estate acquisitions that occurred during the
      period.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">We
believe that we have disclosed the purchase price allocation for significant
real estate acquisitions that occurred during the period in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, &#8220;Business Combinations&#8221;, or
SFAS No. 141.&#160;&#160;SFAS No. 141 requires disclosing the amount assigned to
each major asset and liability caption at the acquisition date.&#160;&#160;The
major captions of our purchase price allocation include land, buildings and
improvements, intangible assets and liabilities and debt assumed, if
applicable.&#160;&#160;We disclose the acquisition price and debt assumed, if
applicable, of real estate acquisitions in Note 3 - Real Estate Properties and
intangible assets and liabilities, if applicable, in Note 2 - Summary of
Significant Accounting Policies.&#160;&#160;In future filings, we will
consolidate the disclosures of our purchase price allocation for significant
real estate acquisitions in one Note.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Note 12. Pro Forma
Information (unaudited), page F-22</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">4.&#160;&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">To
      the extent that pro forma information is presented in future filings,
      please confirm to us that you will not present the information for more
      than one complete fiscal year and interim period, if applicable. In
      addition, please present the financial information in columnar form
      showing historical results, pro forma
</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
        </div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">-3-</font></div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div>&#160;</div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">adjustments
      and pro forma results. The pro forma adjustments should be referenced to
      footnotes which clearly explain the assumptions used in determining
      adjustments made to the historical financial statements. Please also
      present separately the pro forma adjustments pertaining to acquisitions
      that are required to be reported on Form
8-K.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">We
believe that we have appropriately disclosed, in Note 12 - Pro Forma Information
(unaudited), pro forma information in accordance with SFAS No.
141.&#160;&#160;As required by SFAS No. 141, paragraph 54, we disclosed the
revenue and earnings of our significant real estate acquisitions as though the
acquisitions had occurred as of the beginning of the annual reporting period and
as though the acquisitions had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable
prior annual reporting period.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">We
also believe we are in compliance with the pro forma requirements in Article 11
of Regulation S-X as such pro forma financial information has been included in
our Forms 8-K or Forms 8-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on April 8, 2009, December 17, 2008, September 29, 2008, May 23, 2008 and May 9,
2008.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">***********************************************************************</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">We
acknowledge that:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 54pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">the
      Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in
      the Filing;</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">
          <tr valign="top">
            <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 54pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">staff
      comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not
      foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the
      filings; and</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
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              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
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            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">the
      Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding
      initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities
      laws of the United States.</font></div>
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    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">We
appreciate your comments and welcome the opportunity to discuss with you our
responses provided above.&#160;&#160;Please call me at (617) 219-1405 if you
have any questions or require additional information.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Sincerely,</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">SENIOR
HOUSING PROPERTIES TRUST</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">By:<font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"> /s/ Richard A. Doyle
Jr.</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif">Richard
A. Doyle Jr.</font></div>
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&amp; Chief Financial Officer</font></div>
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        <div style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" align="left">
          <div style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" align="left">
            <div style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" align="left">
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                      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">cc:</font></div>
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                      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">Kristi
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      Accountant</font></div>
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                          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif">United
      States Securities and Exchange
  Commission</font></div>
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