Only renters have to pay their rent?

yes, that's why it's called rent, because it's paid by renters.

But not people with mortgages, right?

correct. people with mortgages make mortgage payments, they don't pay rent. they aren't renting, they (along with the bank) own the property.

How did the sheriff's office get eviction notices that were not legal?  

apparently, some of the court ordered eviction notices contained no proof that the legally mandated notifications, to the renting occupants, had been properly executed, by the plaintif in the case.

the eviction notices were not perfected. until this is done, they have no standing under law, and the sheriff is legally prohibited from acting on them.

As to the Philly sheriff, I suspect his moratorium has been forced to be lifted by the Courts - we are not hearing any more about it.

The issue is pretty simple.  When a Sheriff is performing a sale as the culminating act of a foreclosure, he is performing a "ministerial" act as opposed to a "discretionary" act.  This is an important distinction in the law.  For the non-lawyers, a ministerial act is one where the governmental official is carrying out a legally required duty and has little if any discrection (power to decide) whether or not to do it.  "Just doing my job" in so many words.  A discretionary act, OTOH, is one where the act is within the official's power, but he may choose to perform it now, or perform it later.

In carrying out a sheriff's sale or, likely for that matter an eviction, the sheriff is only doing this because the Court, as a part of the foreclosure, has ordered him to do it.  He is a court officer carrying out a court order.

Now, can the sheriff find ways to drag his feet and require every i dotted and t crossed in such a way as to delay carrying out a foreclosure sale or eviction?  Yes.  Insisting on perfect paperwork is a classic, and very effective, way of delaying performing a duty odious to the official.  Sheriffs are, by and large, elected officials and they like their incumbency and re-election just like any other elected official.  Offending voters and having scenes of screaming people carried away from their homes reported does not held the public image.  

But, as in the Depression or the family farm crisis of the 1980s, going after the sheriff is no different than going after the arm of the octopus that's grabbed you.  He has no independent discretion and is "just doing his job".  The place to attack the foreclosure problem is in the policy and rules that put the Sheriff in the position to be "just doing his job".  The Sheriff is not the real enemy, here.

As to the Cook County sheriff - he seems to be engaging in a classic form of foot-dragging to avoid performaing an odious duty.  Not that I disagree with him - I think it's commendable, in fact.  One of the bigger renter nightmares is the landlord who, rather than pay the mortgage pockets the rent money and lets the building go.  It's right up there with the illegal sublet or the false-front landlord (the one who says he is the landlord but isn't), both of which often result in sudden, unexpected renters' moves.  

Sorry I am so dumb

Dart said he will resume foreclosure-related evictions when lenders agree to do their own due diligence in figuring out who is living in foreclosed properties.

But the bold step could make matters worse for aspiring homeowners and the market, some experts say.

"It would have a significant impact because obviously lenders would be hesitant to lend if they knew that if someone defaulted they wouldn't be able to take the property back," said Frank Binetti, vice president of the Illinois Mortgage Bankers Association. "It would create higher risks for lenders and they would have to price that into the loans, if they even chose to lend in Cook County.

"The only thing you have as a lender is the collateral, and if you aren't able to retrieve the collateral, why are you even lending in the first place?"

I see the mortgage companies are quickly to lay blame and fault on the Sheriffs decisions. (Calling him a vigilante) -- this is so far from the truth.

This is exactly why America is in trouble today -- Mortgage companies only see pieces of paper and not human occupation of the dwelling.

All I see here is pointing of the finger instead of a solution to the cause.

Come on big corporate mortgaged companies,, Look for solutions instead of your corporate greed -- I back the Sheriff -10000000 $%

Solution = If the renters are making their monthly payment to the mortgagee and the mortgagee is not paying the mortgage and is behind ,, get the renter to assume the loan with the original owners permission.

Oh yea --- I forget ,,,,, this takes a lot of time and paper work ..

It seems ,, that actually having to work as a mortgage company takes presentence over human welfare. ??????? Must be true!!!!!!!! Huh ?