The courts are able to award compensation when one can demonstrate a real loss. In the case of the renter having to move out and use other accommadation is a real loss. That usually means being able to present invoices, bills etc that the court can assess.
Contrary to what we see from American TV shows , the courts do not usually award money for emotional losses, inconvenience etc etc (Unless you can demonstrate probably via medical reports otherwise that the event caused your “stress’)
Where was the OC in regulating this renovator? Surely the approval of what seemed to be a major renovation should have come with conditions (hours of work, dust, noise, clean up etc). It would then be up to the OC to enforce this.
Was approval by the renovator ever sought?