Improvements on leased lands; how assessed; apportionment

(1) If improvements on leased land are to be assessed separately to the owner of the improvements, the actual value of the real property shall be determined without regard to the fact that the owner of the improvements is not the owner of the land upon which such improvements have been placed.

(2) If the owner of the improvements claims that the value of his or her interest in the real property is reduced by reason of uncertainty in the term of his or her tenancy or because of the prospective termination or expiration of the term, he or she shall serve notice of such claim in writing by mail on the owner of the land before January 1 and shall at the same time serve similar notice on the county assessor, together with his or her affidavit that he or she has served notice on the owner of the land.

(3) If the county assessor finds, on the basis of the evidence submitted, that the claim is valid, he or she shall proceed to apportion the total value of the real property between the owner of the improvements and the owner of the land as their respective interests appear.

(4) The county assessor shall give notice to the parties of his or her findings by mail on or before June 1.

(5) The proportions so established shall continue from year to year unless changed by the county assessor after notice on or before June 1 or a claim is filed by either the owner of the improvements or the owner of the land in accordance with the procedure provided in this section.