Kyle Peter Briggs was highly agitated on December 1 last year after breaking up with his partner.

He believed she had been cheating on him and his behaviour escalated in the lead up to the offending.

The home, which is owned by the Department of Housing and Human Services, was gutted by the flames.

Briggs appeared before the Wodonga Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He was asked how he wished to plead to charges of arson and recklessly causing injury.

"I plead guilty on both charges," he told magistrate Ian Watkins.

Briggs has been in custody since the night of the incident.

He did not apply for bail during the brief appearance. 

The court previously heard he had severe depression, oppositional defiant disorder, a self-abusive personality and masochism, with fears he would try to harm himself while in custody.

Police told the court during the December appearance the 27-year-old was involved in an altercation with a man, which caused his head to hit the ground, before the fire.

Briggs had to be pulled off the victim.

He questioned his ex-partner over her apparent infidelity.

In a fit of rage, he ran from the Birallee Plaza to his Stevenson Street home, smashed items throughout the house and shattered most of the windows.

A witness saw him take a large amount of diabetes medication at the home.

Briggs grabbed a lawn mower from the back of the house, moved it to the dining room, and tipped all the petrol out. 

A few seconds later he sparked a lighter and threw it where the fuel was spilt. 

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He watched the petrol ignite before walking out the front door and going to a neighbour's home.

He told the neighbour he had lit the fire and returned to the home, where he waited for emergency services to arrive.

A Wodonga sergeant asked him to move away from the home for his own safety and he was arrested a short time later.

His ex-partner later told police she was fearful of the 27-year-old and believed he was "out of control".

The matter has been listed for the County Court circuit sitting at Wodonga from July 29.

For help or information call Lifeline on 131 114 or SuicideLine on 1300 651 251.