If maintenance was tired of dealing with lockout calls from the tenants then don't install keyed knob/lever sets in the tenant's unit doors... A standard deadbolt and a passage knob can not be locked from the outside without using a key... Don't know hoe many times I have read postings about this situation from people in maintenance and property management yet no one wants to install the proper locks to make sure a lockout can never happen without the tenant being out and misplacing/losing their keys OR someone being inside the unit purposefully locking the door to keep someone out...
_________
BINGO! NC does not allow the sale of locks that don't lock you out. Which is why we purchased locks out of state. Property has been sold so it's not a problem at least for me any longer.