Pen Vs free roam and when to cut drop ins

Have a sweet small breed pup who will turn 6 months in a week. He is left from 5-7 hours 2 or 3 days a week in his pen (food, water, pee pad). He tolerates separation fine and sleeps when no one is home (less so when home and go upstairs, as he cannot go up or down stairs yet)

When i am gone more than 5 hours he gets a 20 min drop in to let him pee on balcony and run around a bit. He has not used his pee pad in about 3 weeks so the drop ins feel important to give him a potty break.

I am wondering when I should consider free roam while gone, and when I can fade drop ins, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Pup is fully free roam when I am home.