After eight years of house shares across London, 34 year old Gabrielle, a Belgian-born senior project manager for a creative agency, has stepped firmly onto the property ladder with the purchase of her very first home – a one-bedroom apartment in Harrow, made possible through affordable housing developer Pocket Living.
Gabrielle moved to London from Belgium nearly ten years ago, drawn by the city’s vibrant culture and the opportunities it offered for career growth.
“I always felt that London was a place where experience mattered more than diplomas or exam results,” she says. “And being just a two-hour train ride from Brussels meant I could still stay close to my friends and family while pursuing my career.”
Over the past eight years, Gabrielle has lived in a range of areas including Leytonstone, Fulham, Kilburn, and Canary Wharf, always in shared flats. While she loved the energy of the city, the instability of renting and sharing spaces eventually took its toll.
“Flat sharing takes a lot of mental energy and I realised I was experiencing quite severe burnout because of my living situation, so for my own wellbeing I knew that I had to find a place of my own,” she explains.
After a short trip home to Belgium to reset, Gabrielle returned to London in June 2025 determined to make a change. With rental costs for one-bedroom flats in London climbing as high as £1,500 per month, excluding bills, she began researching homeownership options. That’s when she rediscovered Pocket Living.
“I’d followed Pocket on Instagram for years but never thought that owning a home in London was financially within reach,” Gabrielle says. “When I started crunching the numbers, I realised that by paying just £50 more than I was currently paying in rent each month, I could easily pay off my own monthly mortgage payments.”
By mid-June, Gabrielle was actively viewing properties, both new build and second-hand, and quickly set her sights on a new development in Harrow called Sheepcote Road HA1.
“Having already heard good things about Harrow from friends living in the area, the home ticked all the boxes for me – access to great transport links, space for visitors, and it was affordable. I booked a viewing for July, and within weeks, I had the keys.”
Gabrielle’s new flat is a light-filled, top-floor apartment with south-facing views, part of the Sheepcote Road HA1 development, where prices start from £262,000 with no stamp duty to pay.
“I cried when I got the keys. It still doesn’t feel entirely real, it’s a dream come true. I felt like I went from ‘adult bronze’ to ‘adult silver’ overnight”, explains Gabrielle.
Gabrielle has wasted no time making the space her own.
“After years of living in flats that I couldn’t personalise, I’m finally putting up shelves and painting walls. It’s my blank canvas.”
Beyond the flat itself, Gabrielle has already started making use of the shared amenities in the development, which includes the landscaped rooftop gardens and co-working spaces.
“The coworking space is a game changer. I’ve used it nearly every day since moving in and it was ideal during the Tube strike. It’s perfect for hybrid working, and it’s a chance to bump into my neighbours.”
As a frequent traveller to Belgium, being just a 10 minute walk from Harrow-on-the-Hill station was another key factor in her decision.
“Even though Harrow is in Zone 5, I can get to Central London just as quickly as I could from Canary Wharf. I’ve swapped the Central Line for the Metropolitan Line and it makes it super easy to get to work or to visit my family.”
Reflecting on her homebuying journey, Gabrielle admits she never believed owning in London was possible on a single income.
“I thought I’d have to find a partner to be able to buy. But thanks to Pocket, I did it on my own. That independence means everything to me.”
She also recognises the systemic challenges first-time buyers face.
“The London housing market is daunting, it is full of expensive, outdated properties, and not a lot of support. Pocket changed that. They provided clarity, checklists, and guidance every step of the way. As a project manager, I had my spreadsheets and to-do lists so we were very much on the same page.”
Gabrielle’s advice to prospective first time buyers is to be proactive, do their research, and lean on people who’ve been through the process recently.
“Don’t just ask your parents, ask your friends or coworkers who have bought their homes within the last few years and know how the current system works. Maybe even see if they will come to some of your house viewings with you, particularly if you are buying solo. And importantly, trust your gut. If a place doesn’t feel right, move on. But if it does, go for it.”
To be eligible to purchase a Pocket home at Sheepcote Road HA1, the prospective buyer can’t already own another property, and must live or work in London. All buyers must earn under the Mayor of London’s income threshold for affordable housing (currently £90,000).
When the homes are sold on, new purchasers must meet the original criteria including a household income below the Mayor of London’s affordable housing threshold.
Buyers own 100% of their property, which are sold at a 20% discount to the local market.
For more information or to register interest, prospective buyers can visit www.pocketliving.com or call 020 7291 3683.