The verdict in three sentences
When a supplier disappears mid-project, the worst decision is to start over without a code audit, and the second worst is to keep everything without checking. A serious audit costs 3,000 to 8,000 GBP on the London market in 2026 and usually shows that 40 to 70 % of the code can be reused. Before any new line of code, check in the contract that you actually own the intellectual property in the source code and the hosting accounts, otherwise the rescue can be legally blocked.
The four emergencies of the first days
An abandoned project degrades fast: domains expiring, servers billed to a card that is no longer yours, developer accounts deactivated. Before talking budget, secure what exists.
| Emergency | What to recover | Risk if you wait |
|---|---|---|
| Source code | Access to the Git repository (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) with history | Code lost or only a partial version on a laptop |
| Hosting | AWS, Azure, DigitalOcean or Vercel accounts in the company's name | Server deleted for non-payment, often within 30 days |
| Domain and DNS | Transfer code, registrar access | Expiry and loss of the domain |
| Database | Full export and credentials | Customer or business data inaccessible |
| Third-party services | Stripe keys, email sending, maps, APIs | Accounts closed, integrations broken |
| Documents | Specification, designs, signed quotes, invoices | No way to prove the scope you paid for |
On the legal side, reread the contract. Under UK law, copyright in software written by an independent contractor stays with the contractor unless there is a written assignment. If the contract is silent, a discussion with the supplier, a solicitor or a formal letter before action becomes necessary. 2026 market estimate: an IP solicitor in London charges 250 to 500 GBP per hour.
What a code audit checks and what it costs
The audit answers one question: continue, refactor or rewrite? It reviews code structure, outdated dependencies, security, test coverage, database quality and the gap between what was delivered and what the specification required.
| Audit type (2026 London market estimate) | Scope | Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick audit | Repository review, dependencies, obvious vulnerabilities | 3,000 to 4,000 GBP | 3 to 5 days |
| Standard audit | + database, architecture, estimate of remaining work | 4,000 to 6,000 GBP | 1 to 2 weeks |
| In-depth audit | + security testing, performance, costed report per module | 6,000 to 8,000 GBP | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Restart setup | Dev environment, deployment, documentation | 2,000 to 5,000 GBP | 1 to 2 weeks |
The useful deliverable is a table per module with three columns: keep, fix, rewrite, each with a number of days. Without that table, no new supplier can give you a reliable quote.
Rescue or start from scratch: the decision grid
A rescue pays off when the code follows a mainstream framework (Laravel, Rails, Next.js, Django), when dependencies are less than two years behind and when the database is consistent. It becomes risky when the code has no structure, no tests and plain-text passwords.
| Criterion | Rather rescue | Rather rewrite |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated reusable code | over 60 % | under 40 % |
| Framework | standard and maintained | home-made or abandoned |
| Dependencies | under 2 years behind | unsupported versions |
| Critical vulnerabilities | 0 to 3, fixable | many, structural |
| Documentation | partial but present | none |
| Gap with specification | under 30 % | over 50 % |
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Illustrative example: James, managing director of an equipment hire SME in London, signed a 60,000 GBP project and paid 60 %, so 36,000 GBP. The standard audit, billed 5,000 GBP, shows 55 % of the code is reusable and estimates the remaining work at 80 developer days. At 650 GBP per day, a London market estimate, that is 52,000 GBP. A full rewrite would have been quoted around 120 days, so 78,000 GBP. The audit therefore saves him about 21,000 GBP net, and he can dispute part of the sums paid with a written report.
FAQ
How much does a code audit cost in London in 2026?
Allow 3,000 to 8,000 GBP depending on project size and depth of analysis. A quick 3 to 5 day audit is often enough to decide what comes next.
How much of the code can usually be reused?
Between 40 and 70 % on the rescue projects we see. Below 40 %, a rewrite is generally cheaper and less risky.
What if the supplier refuses to hand over the code?
Send a formal letter before action citing the contract and paid invoices. If there is no written IP assignment, speak to a solicitor before any rescue; fees run 250 to 500 GBP per hour.
How long before development can restart?
Allow 2 to 4 weeks between recovering access, the audit and setting the environment back up. New features then arrive in 2-week sprints.
How do we avoid this happening again?
Require a Git repository in your company's name from day one, deliveries every 2 weeks and a written IP assignment clause. Pay against delivered milestones, for example 20 % per validated stage.
Let's scope your project. Send us repository access and your specification to receive an audit scope, a timeline and a rescue or rewrite recommendation through our quote request. 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.
