A man has been charged after a 77-year-old woman was found dead following a suspicious house fire on the NSW Central Coast.

Homicide detectives were called on to help after flames engulfed a single-level unit on Melissa Close in Bateau Bay, north of Terrigal, about 9.30pm yesterday.

Police arrived to find a body, believed to be the female resident, in the lounge room.

This evening, police said a 26-year-old man, who was arrested at Chittaway about 3.30pm yesterday on an outstanding warrant for an unrelated domestic violence-related offence, had been charged with damaging property by fire.

It’s believed he was known to the woman.

Police say the woman had suffered severe burns, but her exact cause of death still has to be determined by a post-mortem examination. 

A crime scene has been established, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Homicide Squad detectives were called in to help investigate what police deemed a suspicious death. 

The 26-year-old was denied bail to face Bail Division Local Court 6 tomorrow.