The verdict in three sentences
Before you write off an unfinished app, commission a code audit of 5 to 8 days (EUR 2,500 to 6,000 excl. VAT, 2026 Irish market estimate): in most cases 30 to 60% of the code can be reused. The absolute priority is recovering access (Git repository, hosting, domain, app store accounts) and checking intellectual property, because under Irish law, without a written assignment, copyright stays with the contractor. The rescue then costs EUR 18,000 to 45,000 depending on project state, usually less than a full rewrite.
Step 1: recover access first
The pattern is common in Dublin: the project moves well for 4 months, then deliveries slow and messages go unanswered. Before any technical discussion, list what you actually control.
| Access | Where to look | Risk if missing | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Code repository (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) | Contractor or company account | Total loss of source code | Request transfer or full export |
| Hosting (AWS, Azure, DigitalOcean) | Invoices, sign-up emails | Service shut down at renewal | Move the account to the company |
| Domain name and DNS | Registrar, often in contractor's name | Site and email offline | Request the transfer (Auth) code |
| Database and backups | Hosting | Loss of customer data | Immediate encrypted export |
| Apple and Google Play accounts | Developer consoles | No updates possible | Accounts in the company's name |
| Third-party services (Stripe, email, SMS) | API keys in code | Payments blocked | Reissue keys under your account |
If the contractor stays unreachable, a solicitor's letter citing the contract and payments made often unlocks things within 2 to 3 weeks. Hosts and registrars sometimes accept a transfer on proof that invoices were paid by the company.
Step 2: the code audit and its findings
A serious audit reviews architecture, code quality, test coverage, outdated dependencies, security and the gap between the specification and what was delivered. It ends with one of these recommendations.
| Audit verdict | Reusable code | Rescue cost (2026 estimate) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rescue and finish | 50 to 70% | EUR 18,000 to 30,000 | 2 to 4 months |
| Partial rebuild | 30 to 50% | EUR 30,000 to 45,000 | 3 to 5 months |
| Full rewrite | Under 30% | EUR 45,000 to 90,000 | 4 to 8 months |
| Audit only | Not applicable | EUR 2,500 to 6,000 | 5 to 8 days |
| Urgent security fixes | Not applicable | EUR 1,800 to 4,500 | 1 to 2 weeks |
Common red flags: plain-text passwords in code, no automated backups, an unsupported framework version, business logic mixed into screens. None of these alone forces a rewrite.
Step 3: secure the rescue legally
Under the Irish Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, software written by an independent contractor belongs to its author unless there is a written assignment of copyright. Employees are different, but contractors are not employees. If your original contract lacks an assignment clause, get one signed before a third party modifies the code.
For the rescue, require from the new supplier: continuous delivery to a repository owned by your company, IP assignment on payment of each milestone, technical documentation and milestone-based payment rather than time and materials. Our custom web application offer covers audit and rescue; scope and price are set in the quote.
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Ciara, managing director of a plant hire SME in Dublin, paid a contractor EUR 40,000 for a booking app delivered at 60% before he went silent. She recovers the repository and hosting after a solicitor's letter, then orders a EUR 4,000 audit.
Verdict: 55% reusable, rescue and finish estimated at EUR 25,000 over 3 months. Total project cost: 40,000 + 4,000 + 25,000 = EUR 69,000. A full rewrite would have cost 4,000 + 70,000 = EUR 74,000 on top of the original spend, or EUR 114,000 in total. The audit saved about EUR 45,000 and 3 months of delay, for an app that then brings in EUR 4,500 of extra bookings a month.
FAQ
How much does an audit of an abandoned app cost?
As a 2026 estimate, EUR 2,500 to 6,000 excl. VAT for 5 to 8 days of work. The price depends on codebase size and the number of technologies used.
Do I own the code if I paid the contractor?
Not automatically: in Ireland you need a written copyright assignment. Without it the contractor keeps copyright, even if you paid 100% of the invoices.
How much code is usually salvageable?
In most audits, 30 to 60% of the code is reusable. Below 30%, a rewrite becomes cheaper than a rescue.
What if the contractor refuses to hand over access?
A solicitor's letter often resolves it within 2 to 3 weeks. As a last resort, the courts can order delivery of the source code under the contract.
What does the rescue cost after the audit?
EUR 18,000 to 45,000 depending on the audit verdict, over 2 to 5 months. Milestone payments reduce the risk of the same situation happening again.
Let's scope your project. We audit your app, help you recover access and price the rescue milestone by milestone, with a first report within 8 days. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
