(a) In the case of a property that is the primary residence of the last known assessee, as indicated by either a valid homeowner’s exemption on file with the county assessor in the name of the last known assessee, or the fact that the mailing address for the last tax bill is the same address as the property, the tax collector or his or her agent shall, in addition to any other notice required by this chapter, make a reasonable effort to contact in person, not more than 120 days or less than 10 days prior to the date of the sale, the owner-occupant of that property. In the course of the personal contact, the tax collector, or his or her agent, shall inform the owner-occupant of the following:

(1) That the property, if not redeemed, shall be offered for sale at a public auction.

(2) His or her redemption rights pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 4101).

(b) If the personal contact described in subdivision (a) is not made after reasonable efforts, the tax collector or his or her agent shall attempt to serve written notice, no less than five days prior to the date of the sale, with respect to the fact of the sale and the requirement that the tax collector be contacted immediately with respect to redemption of the property.

(c) The amount of the actual and reasonable costs incurred by the tax collector, or his or her agent, or both, in complying with the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (b), as established pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 54985) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code, shall be added to the required amount for redemption of the property.

(d) No transfer of title shall be invalidated by reason of failure to comply with the requirements of this section.

(e) If the property subject to the notice required by this section is the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding, the notice shall constitute a “notice of tax deficiency” pursuant to Section 362(b)(9)(B) of Title 11 of the United States Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 119, Sec. 5. (SB 1506) Effective January 1, 2019.)