Rodney Vincent Kerslake granted bail, charged with arson after allegedly torching unit on Warral Road in Tamworth

Rodney Vincent Kerslake appeared in Tamworth Local Court on Monday, four days from his arrest at the scene.

Kerslake is charged with arson after the fire broke out at the Warral Road unit in Tamworth on the afternoon of November 12.

The 50-year-old is accused of one count of damaging property worth more than $15,000 by fire after the blaze took hold of the ground-level unit, but was not required to enter a plea to the charge in court.

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Magistrate Julie Soars granted Kerslake bail with a long list of conditions, and ordered the case to return to court next month.

The court had previously been told Kerslake had family in the Newcastle area who could take him in, while on bail, so that he could "have that extra support", his solicitor said after his arrest.

As part of his bail orders, Kerslake must report to Toronto police once-a-week; and live in Fishing Point with a family member.

He must take all prescribed medication; attend all appointments as ordered by authorities, and must not commit any offences.

He's under house arrest and only allowed out in the company of a court-nominated person.

The court was told last week that it was the police case that Kerslake had set fire to a cotton jumper, and consequently, "it's alleged that he lit his apartment".

The court was told the unit was owned by Homes North and "there was a lot of damage".

Kerslake was arrested at the scene on Warral Road on Thursday afternoon, after a blaze erupted in the ground-floor unit just before 3pm.