Related, the story of William Lyttle[1], the “Mole Man of Hackney”, is rather fascinating. Dug for years underneath his house and surrounding streets in London.

He was then evicted by the local council, the house sold, renovated by an architect and a well known artist moved in[2].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lyttle

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks5QdYhvHWg