These waivers allow important mortgage servicing activities to continue, but in a manner that allows for safe social distancing to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“President Biden has made it clear that protecting the health, safety, and homeownership security of the nation’s most vulnerable populations, including seniors, are urgent and immediate priorities,” Acting HUD Secretary Matthew Ammon said in a release. “The policy waivers issued today are another important step in addressing these priorities.” 

The waivers build upon previous waivers and put in place the following provisions through Dec. 31, 2021: 

• Allowing alternative methods for servicers to conduct borrower interviews for FHA-insured forward and HECM mortgages when performing early default interventions for borrowers in danger of foreclosure;
• Waiving the $5,000 property charge payment arrearages cap on recalculated repayment plans, allowing servicers to help more HECM borrowers who are behind on their property charge payments; and
• Eliminating the requirement for servicers to obtain a signature on an occupancy certification from a HECM borrower. 

The waivers augment FHA’s actions to deliver on President Joe Biden’s “Day One” request to provide urgent and immediate support to the nation’s homeowners struggling to make their mortgage payments due to COVID-19. 

FHA also extended its foreclosure and eviction moratorium for borrowers with FHA-insured single-family mortgages through March 31, 2021. In addition, the agency extended the deadline for borrowers financially impacted by COVID-19 to request a new forbearance from their mortgage servicer through March 31, 2021.