The two men accused of an arson attack on a Maungatapu home will remain behind bars until their next court appearance.

The men, both aged 21, were arrested following a short investigation into a house fire in Maungatapu on Monday.

Firefighters at the scene of the arson in Maungatapu.

Firefighters were called to the Te Wati Street address around 3pm after neighbours heard a window breaking and spotted smoke coming from the house.

The fire was in a flat on the top storey of the house separated from the main residence by a fire wall. There is also a flat under the building. The top flat where the fire started is uninhabitable.

The men were arrested on Tuesday and appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday.

They are also accused of setting fire to rubbish bins at Tauranga Boys' College and a mobility scooter, as well as an unrelated burglary charge.

The accused are due back in court on Monday.