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Massachusetts’ largest affordable housing operator is extending its moratorium on evictions for tenants with financial hardship through Dec. 31 in response to lingering COVID-19 impacts.

Boston-based WinnCompanies, which owns 51 apartment properties in Massachusetts with more than 12,000 residents, originally announced in March that it was adopting a temporary eviction moratorium on all non-essential evictions at its multifamily properties in Massachusetts. Residents are required to document their financial hardship due to COVID-19 and enter a payment plan.

“The state and its citizens have made heroic strides and sacrifices to bring the virus under control, but housing instability and economic hardship continues to be felt by many residents across our Massachusetts’ portfolio,” CEO Gilbert Winn said in a statement.

Between April and June, 29 percent of Massachusetts renters missed at least some of their rent payments, according to a MassINC report, compared with the 13 percent of homeowners missing mortgage payments over the same period.

The statewide eviction moratorium for tenants with COVID-19-related financial hardship is scheduled to expire Aug. 18, although a bill filed last week by state Reps. Mike Connolly and Kevin Honan and Sen. Patricia Jehlen would extend the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for a year after Gov. Charlie Baker lifts the public health emergency.

WinnCompanies said its halt on evictions does not relieve tenants of their responsibility to pay rent, and does not apply to lease violations related to criminal activity or other health and safety threats.

The Baker administration has added $20 million to the state’s Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance program, while Boston Mayor Marty Walsh increased the city’s rental relief fund by $8 million as job losses continue to pile up. The state’s 16.3 percent unemployment rate in May was the nation’s fourth highest.