The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has extended its foreclosure and real estate owned eviction moratoriums for borrowers with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac-backed mortgages until at least Jan. 31, 2021. The protections were put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the fourth time that the FHFA has extended protections to homeowners. The previous moratoriums were going to expire on Dec. 31.

“Extending Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s foreclosure and eviction moratoriums through January 2021 keeps borrowers safe during the pandemic,” Mark Calabria, FHFA’s director, said in a statement. “This extension gives peace of mind to more than 28 million homeowners with an enterprise-backed mortgage.”

The foreclosure moratorium applies only to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac-backed single-family mortgages. The REO eviction moratorium applies to properties that have been acquired by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure transactions.

The FHFA urges any homeowners struggling with mortgage payments to review options with their lender. Homeowners could be eligible for a forbearance plan to reduce or suspend their mortgage payments for up to 12 months.