I Came for My Final Year… and Ended Up Staying: An Interview with Sara

Published 2025-11-13 · Testimonials · By DIFF_RENT Team

Meet Sara, a former university student who moved into DIFF_RENT Harrow during her final year and loved it so much she stayed after graduating. Discover her story and what a typical Sunday looks like in Harrow.

Meet Sara, a former university student who moved into DIFF_RENT Harrow on the Hill during her final year — and loved it so much she stayed even after graduating. We sat down with her to talk about life in her studio flat, the community she found, and what a typical Sunday looked like in Harrow.

Q: What first brought you to DIFF_RENT Harrow on the Hill?

Sara: "I was going into my final year at uni and desperately wanted somewhere calm and organised. I'd spent two years in noisy student houses with mismatched furniture and unreliable internet. I needed a proper home — somewhere I could actually study without stress. When I saw the fully furnished studio flats at DIFF_RENT, I thought: Yes. This is it."

Q: What were your first impressions when you moved in?

Sara: "Honestly? Relief. Everything was ready. I didn't have to buy a single thing. I unpacked, made a coffee downstairs, and felt settled within a couple of hours.

The studio was modern, clean, bright — and finally, I had my own space. No housemates stealing groceries, no sharing bathrooms, no distractions. Just… peace."

Q: Speaking of coffee — we hear you were a regular at the machine downstairs?

Sara (laughs): "Every single morning! The free coffee was my little ritual before lectures. I'd grab a cup, chat with whoever else was down there, and head out. It made early starts feel a bit more human."

Q: How was the commute to university from Harrow?

Sara: "So easy. That was one of the biggest reasons I stayed. My commute was super fast, smooth and predictable. No faff. No changing trains five times. It shaved off so much stress — and honestly saved me hours each week."

Q: Did the building's social side play a part in your experience?

Sara: "Definitely. It wasn't like student accommodation where everything is loud and chaotic. DIFF_RENT has this quiet, grown-up sense of community.

I met friends just by bumping into the same people grabbing coffee or heading to the gym.

And the shared spaces are such a nice balance — you can socialise if you want, but you always have your own private studio to retreat to. Perfect."

Q: You mentioned studying a lot around the building. What made it a good environment?

Sara: "Some days I needed silence, so I'd work in my studio. Other days I wanted a bit of background buzz.

The lounge downstairs was perfect for that — big windows, comfy seating, and enough space to spread out my notes.

It became my go-to spot during dissertation season."

Q: You graduated… but didn't move out. Why?

Sara: "While my friends were scrambling to find flats across London — deposits, furniture, landlords, the whole nightmare — I looked around my studio and thought: Why would I leave?

I already had everything: comfort, location, community, convenience. So I renewed my tenancy and stayed. Best decision I made that year."

What Does a Typical Sunday Look Like?

Sara: "Sundays are my favourite. They always have this gentle routine."

09:00 – Coffee Time

"I start with a cup from the machine downstairs — obviously! If the weather's nice, I take it outside and wander up towards Harrow on the Hill. The old architecture, the views… it's peaceful."

10:00 – Gym Session

"Nothing crazy. A quick workout, maybe some stretching. It wakes me up."

11:30 – Brunch

"There are so many cute cafés around Harrow. Sometimes I'd meet a neighbour, other times bring a book. It's such an easy, friendly area."

13:00 – Food Shop

"Harrow's packed with supermarkets and international stores, so it's easy to get everything I need. It always feels like the neighbourhood is built for convenience."

14:00 – Study or Chill Time

"Back at the building, I'd either settle into my studio with my laptop or head to the lounge. Even now that I'm working instead of studying, I keep that Sunday reset time."

17:00 – Evening Walk

"I love walking up by Harrow School and down the hill. The views of London are beautiful — it's my weekly mindfulness moment."

18:00 – Cooking & Relaxing

"I'd cook something simple, throw on a series, and wind down. Sundays at DIFF_RENT always feel like home."

Q: If you had to sum up your experience at DIFF_RENT in one sentence, what would it be?

Sara: "A place I moved into for convenience — and ended up staying because it genuinely felt like home."

Sara's story is just one of many at DIFF_RENT Harrow. If you're a student looking for stress-free accommodation or a graduate wanting to stay in a community you love, we'd love to show you around.

Book a tour today and discover your DIFF_RENT story.