A Melbourne man has been accused of murdering his housemate after an argument over unpaid rent.

John Pozzebon, 56, has been charged with one count of murder after a tenant at his Sunshine North property was shot dead.

According to a police remand summary tendered in an out of session court hearing, the tenant had lived in a room at Pozzebon's property for a few weeks when a heated argument began in the kitchen early on Saturday morning.

Police allege Pozzebon had been drinking and believed the tenant was refusing or delaying payment.

Pozzebon, a licensed gun owner, went to the rear shed of the property and grabbed three bullets before retrieving a hunting rifle from a locked safe in the garage and loaded the ammunition, police allege.